CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Incumbent wins presidency

Photo: IRIN
Posters of presidential candidates in the capital, Bangui.
BANGUI, 24 May 2005 (IRIN) - Francois Bozize, the incumbent leader of the Central African Republic (CAR), who came into power through a coup in 2003, was on Tuesday declared the winner of the country's presidential elections.

Bozize won the final round of the poll by 64.6 percent of the vote, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Jean Willybiro Sako, announced at an official ceremony at the National Assembly.

The election, held on 8 May, was a runoff between Bozize and former Prime Minister Martin Ziguele, who gained 35.4 percent of the vote.

Ziguele told IRIN on Tuesday that he accepted the results, and may run for president again in five years, as "the results I obtained are encouraging".

"If Bozize wants me to join his government, I have to consult my party. They will decide, not me," he said.

Under the electoral code, the new president should be inaugurated 45 days after being declared the winner.

Theme (s): Governance,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

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