French warplanes fly over Central African Republic amid tension

French warplanes flew over the Central African Republic on Saturday for the first time since a disputed election last month, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said.

The president’s office said the flight took place at the request of President Faustin-Archange Touadera and with permission of a UN peacekeeper mission in the country.

It added that President Macron had condemned recent acts of violence, an apparent reference to a rebel advance which Touadera and the United Nations say has been mounted by former President Francois Bozize to thwart the election.

Touadera was declared the winner of the December 27 election with more than 50% of votes cast in a single round, avoiding a run-off against any of the 16 challengers.

Many of the opposition candidates have demanded an annulment and a repeat of the election, citing irregularities and low turnout following violent clashes.

French warplanes also flew over the Central African Republic four days before the vote.

France has a history of repeated military interventions in the Central African Republic, most recently from 2013-2016. The United Nations now maintains nearly 13,000 peacekeepers there.

The electoral commission declared Touadera the winner with voter turnout of more than 76%.

However, only half the country’s 1.8 million eligible voters were able to register to vote due to the rebel offensive.

Olajumoke Adeleke