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Tag: provisional results

  • Central African Republic President Touadéra wins third term

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    Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has won a third term in office after securing an outright majority in last month’s presidential election, provisional results show.

    The 68-year-old mathematics professor was widely expected to win after the main opposition coalition boycotted the election, citing concerns about electoral fairness.

    Touadéra campaigned on his security record in the chronically unstable nation after rebels seized power in 2013, a crisis that led the government to enlist support from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers.

    He has faced heavy criticism after a 2023 constitution removed term limits, allowing him to keep running for office.

    More than 2.4 million people registered for the 28 December general election, which observers described as largely peaceful despite delays caused by late polling materials and problems with the electoral register.

    Touadéra secured 76% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced late on Monday by the election agency.

    His closest challengers, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers, received 15% and about 3% of the vote, respectively.

    Both have called for the results to be annulled, alleging widespread irregularities and electoral fraud.

    On Friday, Dologuélé said there had been “a methodical attempt to manipulate” the electoral outcome.

    The main opposition coalition, known by its French acronym BRDC, boycotted the election, saying it was unlikely to be fair.

    The government has denied the claims.

    The Constitutional Court has until 20 January to rule on any challenges and declare the final results.

    The CAR is one of Africa’s poorest and most unstable countries, even though it is rich in resources such as diamonds and uranium. The UN estimates that about half the population is dependent on humanitarian aid.

    Since 2013, the landlocked country has been mired in conflict after rebels seized power, ousting then-President François Bozizé.

    A 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 armed groups helped ease tensions, though six of the groups later withdrew from the agreement.

    Analysts say Touadéra’s win could bolster interests of Russia, which has exchanged security assistance for access to resources such as gold and diamonds.

    The CAR was one of the first African countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, became active. The group has also been responsible for providing security to Touadéra.

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  • Guinea junta chief wins presidency in controversial election

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    Gen Mamady Doumbouya has been elected president of Guinea after securing the majority of the vote, according to initial polling results published by the country’s election commission.

    The junta leader is hoping to legitimise his rule after seizing power in a coup four years ago.

    A civil society group campaigning for the return of civilian rule condemned the election as a “charade” after his main challengers were barred from contesting, while opposition candidates said the poll was marred by irregularities.

    On Monday, internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks reported that access to social media platforms TikTok, YouTube and Facebook had been restricted as Guineans waited for the full results.

    There has been no official comment on the restrictions, but opponents see it as an attempt by the junta to stifle criticism of the results.

    The provisional results announced on Tuesday showed Gen Doumbouya winning 86.72% of the 28 December vote, an absolute majority well over the threshold that would trigger a runoff vote. The victory gives the junta leader a seven-year mandate.

    Should the results be challenged, the Supreme Court has eight days to validate them.

    Opposition candidate Faya Millimono said on Monday that the election was marred by “systematic fraudulent practices”, citing expulsion of poll observers, ballot stuffing and intimidation.

    The ruling party and the government have yet to comment on the complaints.

    After overthrowing then-83-year-old President Alpha Condé in 2021, Gen Doumbouya promised not to seek election and to hand power to a civilian.

    “Neither I nor any member of this transition will be a candidate for anything… As soldiers, we value our word very much,” he said at the time.

    The junta leader broke his promise by putting his name on the ballot after a new constitution, implemented in September, permitted him to run for office.

    Eight other candidates took part in Sunday’s election, but with the exclusion of main opposition parties RPG Arc en Ciel and UFDG, none of the participants have a solid political footing.

    Although he is popular with many of Guinea’s youth, Gen Doumbouya has been criticised for restricting opposition activities, banning protests and stifling press freedom in the run-up to the elections.

    The general justified deposing Condé on similar charges – including rampant corruption, disregard for human rights and economic mismanagement.

    Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves and some of its richest iron ore. Last month, authorities launched the gigantic Simandou iron-ore mine to widespread anticipation.

    However, over half of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank figures.

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  • Malawi ex-president takes clear lead in vote-count, results show

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    Malawi’s former President Peter Mutharika has taken a comfortable lead in the country’s presidential race, with two-thirds of districts having reported provisional results.

    The 85-year old has received around 66% of the valid votes counted so far, with his closest rival, the incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, 70, trailing on around 24%.

    Results declared so far indicate that Mutharika has won in areas known to be Chakwera strongholds, including the capital, Lilongwe, and Nkhotakota.

    But Chakwera’s camp has not given up, saying that once results are declared from other areas, his vote will increase, forcing a run-off.

    A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to be declared the winner, with Malawians eagerly awaiting the final result from last Tuesday’s election.

    The Malawi Electoral Commission has until the end of Wednesday to announce it.

    At least two of the 12 districts still to declare results have a large number of registered voters, and Chakwera’s camp believes he will do well there. These includes rural areas around Lilongwe and Dedza.

    Two other districts, where Mutharika is expected to do well, have had their results withheld by the electoral commission as it checks whether they are accurate.

    The commission said it was committed to transparency, accuracy and credibility.

    It added that it was carefully checking every tally sheet, after the constitutional court annulled Mutharika’s victory in 2019 because of irregularities.

    Chakwera won the re-run by a wide margin, but during his presidency Malawi’s economic crisis has deepened, with high inflation, food and fuel shortages and constant power cuts.

    On Friday, Chakwera’s party said it had discovered “irregularities” and “serious anomalies”, and had asked the electoral commission to conduct a “physical audit” of results. The party did not specify the irregularities.

    Police said eight data entry clerks had been arrested on accusations of trying to manipulate results.

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