With our correspondent in Bangui, Charlotte Cosset

The ANE is conducting self-criticism and acknowledges having encountered certain difficulties during the first combined round of 27 December last. Evaluation workshops were conducted pointing to logistical problems, as well as weaknesses among certain personnel.

"Broad criticism was raised with respect to the performance of members of polling station offices, acknowledges Théophile Momokoama, the ANE's general rapporteur. "We have examined these criticisms. Some were worth taking into account. Many measures have been taken and training is one of these actions that will make it possible to correct past errors." About fifteen members of affiliated bodies have been struck off, some for breach of oath or insubordination.

Another major question surrounding this 14 March meeting is that of security. "We are not neglecting the security environment which had greatly affected the 27 December ballot and we believe that things are improving. There are zones where it was not possible to organize elections in December and which are today almost entirely liberated."

With regard to the announced withdrawal of opposition candidates from the COD2020 coalition, Théophile Momokoama assures that he has received no official steps in that direction. After a difficult handover in December, the ANE's general rapporteur assures that the incoming team has launched a "new dynamic".