The Central African Republic’s transitional government has recently announced that the country will hold the second round of its presidential election on February 14, with two former prime ministers facing off in the vote.
Anicet-Georges Dologuele, a finance expert who took nearly 24% of the vote in the December election and academic Faustin Touadera, who won 19%, are the two candidates.
Thirty candidates ran for president amid hopes that the election would help end a long-running political crisis and inter-religious violence in the country.
Interim President Catherine Samba-Panza did not contest the election, as the new constitution forbids leaders of the transitional government from running for office.
Samba-Panza has headed the interim government, which is tasked with restoring peace in the country, since January 2014.
The new government faces the task of disarming the rival religious groups, reuniting the nation and rebuilding the economy.
