The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Central African Republic, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, today called on all voters in the C.A.R. to turnout to vote in the largest possible number in Sunday’s Constitutional referendum. He pledged the mission’s continuing and full support in assisting the C.A.R. authorities in this regard.

The SRSG urged Central Africans to vote peacefully while stressing that Sunday’s referendum combined with presidential and legislative elections of 27 December, are crucial steps for a return to normal constitutional order and stability in Central Africa as we approach the end of the transition on 31 March 2016.

While recognizing difficulties in holding elections in Central Africa due to a long political and security crisis, the SRSG commended Central African authorities in their efforts to ensure the holding of the elections in orderly and timely manner. The Special Representative welcomed the voters registered record number as well as the signature of the Code of Conduct for political parties and actors he branded as clear signs of the endorsement of the electoral process by Central African people.

The Special Representative reiterated MINUSCA’s commitment to continue to do everything possible to assist Central African authorities to ensure they carry out their responsibilities as he reminds the human, technical and logistics resources provided by the Mission to relevant government’s institutions. In the last 48 hours MINUSCA organized more than 60 flights and transported about 100 tons of electoral materials to all country’s 15 regional capitals.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters of the C.A.R. The Mission will continue to do everything to help guarantee that this process is the great success the C.A.R people desperately needs and richly deserves. As they begin a new chapter of their history”, the SRSG said, “the time is now for the people of C.A.R. to take their future into their own hands”.