UN Peacekeeping Chief says Elections remains critical phase in CAR 


The elections in the Central African Republic or CAR remain a critical phase, the outcome of which will show whether that the country has returned to constitutional order.

The UN peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous made the observation after taking part in a "re-hatting" ceremony in the capital Bangui.

On 15 September, thousands of military troops and police officers swapped the African Union green beret for the UN blue helmet.

The authority was officially reassigned as the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

Mr Ladsous said it was a matter of translating into fact all the commitments made.

"These elections must take place as soon as feasible, must be credible, the results must be accepted by all the actors and that would be of course a very significant milestone and a return of normalcy to this country."

Meanwhile, the UN peacekeeping chief also inaugurated the launch of a new UN Radio station named Guira FM.

The Security Council established MINUSCA in April with an authorized strength of 12,000 personnel to help restore stability to the Central African Republic.

SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.