CAR / ELECTION CARDS

Registered voters in Bangui begun to collect their voting cards in preparation for the upcoming general elections, scheduled for Sunday (27 Dec). MINUSCA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:43
• Production Date: 22 December 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MULTIDIMENSIONAL INTEGRATED STABILIZATION MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC - MINUSCA
• Subject Topical: ELECTIONS; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
• MAMS Id: 2594953
• Parent Id: 2594953
• Alternate Title: unifeed201222h

Description

STORY: CAR / ELECTION CARDS
TRT: 03:43
SOURCE: MINUSCA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 DECEMBER 2020, BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICA REPUBLIC

1. Wide shot, city views
2. Various shots, registered voters collecting voting cards
3. Close up, voter's cards
4. Various shots, voters collecting cards
5. Med shot, local resident signing for his cards
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Gbeti Sambia Cyril, Local Resident:
“I'm reassured that I have to vote. I know the vote will take place. And that's a good thing for me and for the country.”
7. Med shot, MINUSCA's Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown visiting a center where voters are collecting cards
8. Various shots, Denice Brown with other UN officials
9. SOUNDBITE (French) Denise Brown, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary and Humanitarian Coordinator, MINUSCA:
“So, what we are seeing is that the population is expressing their desire to vote on the 27th. Already in this center it is two-and-a-half days since the beginning of the voter card distributions, and already 65 percent of the voter cards were claimed by the population. This is a very good sign that the people want to take their card and want to go to the elections on 27 December. End the conflicts in the Central African Republic, end the violence. Those who think they can disrupt the country are gone. And so, it is with great satisfaction on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic, that I am visiting this polling station today.”
10. Wide shot, more voters picking card
11. Wide shot, electoral officials from National Election Authority (ANE)
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Bienvenu Ngalo, President, Sixth District:
"This enthusiasm shows how far the population is ready to go for the elections. That's why you saw, when you came, there are many people coming to pick up their cards and by the 27th, we are ready for the elections. There will be no postponement, there will be no half-measure. There are no problems right now in my district. So, everything is moving well, in the right direction.”
12. Various shots, registered voters collecting cards

Storyline

Registered voters in Bangui begun to collect their voting cards in preparation for the upcoming general elections, scheduled for Sunday (27 Dec).

Judging by the long queues at the registration centres, Central Africans seem determined to turn the page on the violence and division which the country has endured since 2013.

Sambia Cyril, a local resident in Ngaragba district of Bangui, is among the thousands who is looking forward to the opportunity to vote.

SOUNDBITE (French) Gbeti Sambia Cyril, Local Resident:
“I'm reassured that I have to vote. I know the vote will take place. And that's a good thing for me and for the country.”

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA’s) Deputy Special Representative, Denise Brown, expressed satisfaction with progress as she visited various districts where voters were seen collecting voting cards since early morning.
SOUNDBITE (French) Denise Brown, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary and Humanitarian Coordinator, MINUSCA:
“So, what we are seeing is that the population is expressing their desire to vote on the 27th. Already in this center it is two-and-a-half days since the beginning of the voter card distributions, and already 65 percent of the voter cards were claimed by the population. This is a very good sign that the people want to take their card and want to go to the elections on 27 December. End the conflicts in the Central African Republic, end the violence. Those who think they can disrupt the country are gone. And so, it is with great satisfaction on behalf of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic, that I am visiting this polling station today.”

There are over 3,523 centres across the country where registered voters are collecting cards. With over 1,858,236 registered voters, these sites have seen an influx in activity.

Electoral officials from the National Election Authority (ANE), are at hand to provide necessary electoral information and any growing concerns to the population coming out for cards.

SOUNDBITE (French) Bienvenu Ngalo, President, Sixth District:
"This enthusiasm shows how far the population is ready to go for the elections. That's why you saw, when you came, there are many people coming to pick up their cards and by the 27th, we are ready for the elections. There will be no postponement, there will be no half-measure. There are no problems right now in my district. So, everything is moving well, in the right direction.”

Despite increasing tensions in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA has put its peacekeepers on high alert to ensure the conditions are favorable and conducive for holding peaceful presidential and legislative elections.

Additionally, MINUSCA has transported voting materials across the country, both by road and air, in a bid to make the process available to all registered voters.