CAR presidential run-off election scheduled for February 14

Bangui – The Central African Republic will hold the second round of its presidential election on February 14, with two former prime ministers facing off in the vote, the country’s transitional government announced on state radio on Thursday.

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.

About a quarter of CAR’s 4.7 million residents have been displaced since March 2013, when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew Christian president Francois Bozize. Thousands have been killed in inter-religious violence.

The new government faces the task of disarming rival groups, reuniting the nation and rebuilding the economy.