Election violence: Russia and Rwanda deploy military to CAR

Rwanda and Russia have sent troops and supplies to the Central African Republic to help counter a surge in violence by rebel groups ahead of Sunday’s election, officials and a security source in Bangui said.

Security forces and UN peacekeepers have been battling rebels who have occupied towns and roads outside the capital.

The authorities accuse former president Francois Bozize, whose presidential candidacy was rejected by the courts, of plotting a coup with several militant groups.

A spokesman for Bozize’s KNK party has however, denied the accusations.

The United Nations Security Council condemned the violence by armed groups and other militia in a statement on Monday after being briefed on the situation by UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

“The members of the Security Council called on all actors to urgently cease hostile actions and work towards ensuring conditions conducive to the holding of the upcoming elections,” the council said.

President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who is seeking re-election, came to office in 2016 after Bozize was overthrown in a rebellion three years earlier.

He has struggled to restore stability and swathes of the country remain beyond government control.

Olajumoke Adeleke