Peacekeepers were patrolling the streets of Central African Republic yesterday during presidential and legislative elections which many voters hope will end years of violence between Christians and Muslims in which thousands have died.
Authorities have repeatedly delayed the polls, not least due to violence in the capital Bangui in September, and some people doubt militia groups will accept the result if it goes against them.
Thirty candidates are competing in the presidential election, a milestone in the transition to democracy, while all national assembly seats are being contested.
Interim president Catherine Samba-Panza has held office since May 2014 but is barred from standing. In the absence of opinion polls it is difficult to predict the winner.
Queues formed at polling stations in Bangui and in the mainly Muslim PK-5 neighbourhood while UN peacekeepers positioned armoured personnel carriers at voting stations, witnesses said.
About one million people from a population of five million have been driven from their homes by fighting and campaigns of ethnic and religious cleansing.
Mainly Muslim rebels from a group called the Seleka seized power in the majority Christian nation in early 2013, provoking reprisals from Christian anti-balaka militias. Leaders have since fuelled a cycle of religious and inter-communal killings.
Polls closed at 5pm local time. Provisional results will be announced in the following days with the final results coming 15 days after polling day. – (Reuters)