He also called on all political actors and stakeholders to refrain from actions that could incite violence or undermine confidence in the process, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the electoral period.
historic vote
Sunday’s elections will have unprecedented scope and will combine four votes (presidential, legislative, regional and municipal) throughout the country. Notably, municipal elections have not been held in the Central African Republic (CAR) since 1988 and are a key provision of the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation.
The Secretary General described his conduct as “a historic milestone in the peace process” and a critical step towards consolidating decentralization and expanding state authority beyond the capital.
A complex landscape
The Central African Republic has long struggled with armed violence, weak institutions and a limited state presence beyond the capital, Bangui.
Despite the 2019 agreement, insecurity persists in some parts of the country, while conflict, fragile services and extreme weather continue to fuel a humanitarian crisis, with more than two million people in need of assistance and almost one million displaced within or outside the country.
Vast, sparsely populated and landlocked, the Central African Republic borders six countries and is crisscrossed by dense forests, rivers and long, often impassable roads. Outside Bangui, many communities can only be reached by air or day-long trips.
UN support for the electoral process
Guterres acknowledged the efforts of national authorities in preparing for the vote and highlighted the role of the UN peacekeeping mission, MINUSCA, in supporting the process, in coordination with other UN agencies.
In recent weeks, MINUSCA has mobilized extensive logistical and security support to deploy electoral materials throughout the country.even to remote and difficult to access areas.
The mission transported ballots, indelible ink, voter lists and other sensitive materials from Bangui to almost 4,000 voting centers hosting around 6,700 polling stations across the country.
A MINUSCA convoy transporting election kits to voting centers in the Central African Republic in preparation for the December 28, 2025 elections.
MINUSCA deployed all aircraft and helicopters in its fleet to transport electoral materials and personnel, escorted secure ground convoys, and provided temporary storage facilities for sensitive equipment in coordination with the National Electoral Authority (ANE).
In addition, it supported civic education and voter awareness campaigns.including on the prevention of electoral violence and the promotion of a code of conduct for political actors.
More than 2.39 million registered voters, including more than 1.14 million women, are expected to cast their ballots.