Central African Republic - Politics

Politics

François Bozizé is President of the CAR. A new constitution was approved by voters in a referendum held on 5 December 2004. Full multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections were held in March 2005, with a second round in May. Bozizé was declared the winner after a run-off vote.

In February 2006, there were reports of widespread violence in the northern part of the CAR. Thousands of refugees fled their homes, caught in the crossfire of battles between government troops and rebel forces. More than 7,000 people fled to neighboring Chad. Those who remained in the CAR told of government troops systematically killing men and boys suspected of cooperating with rebels.

In March 2010, François Bozizé signed a decree declaring presidential elections on 25 April 2010. The elections were first postponed to 16 May, and then indefinitely. Finally the general election was set for 23 January 2011. Despite serious problems in the organization, the election proceeded as scheduled. A second round was forecast on 20 March 2011, and was conducted 27 March 2011. The general elections are partly funded by the international community (EU and UNDP). An association of most of the Civil Society Organizations, the "Observatoire National des Elections" is monitoring the election process. Bozizé and his party both had major victories in the elections.

Like many other former French colonies, its system is based on French Law.