Presidential election campaigns in the Central African Republic officially kicked off in the capital city of Bangui on Saturday, as voters prepare to select the country's top leader from seven candidates on December 28.
Incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera, who has been in power since 2016, is seeking a third term. In 2023, the country amended the constitution to permit him to do so. The incumbent launched his campaign with pomp and color.
"The President has just given his first campaign speech, in which he reiterated the arguments he made in his address to the nation, taking stock and making promises, and above all pointing out the challenges facing young people as they take over the country," said Touadera's presidential advisor, Guy Roger Mouskit.
Touadera's main opponents are Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers, who have pledged to fight poverty and improve living conditions for the population.
"A country that does not invest in its people abandons itself. This project for society, ladies and gentlemen, is a precise roadmap with clear priorities, planned actions and a coherent vision. And this project says one essential thing: the Central African Republic can be reborn, and we are committed to facing the truth," said Anicet-Georges Dologuele in his public speech.
Approximately 2.3 million voters in the Central African Republic have registered for the quadruple elections to pick their president, legislators, and local and municipal leaders.
Campaigns kick off for Central African Republic's presidential election
Several Japanese peace groups, with some key political figures involved, held an exchange meeting in Tokyo on Monday to oppose the lifting of restrictions on lethal weapon exports and submitted a petition signed by tens of thousands of people to the Diet against lifting the arms export ban.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Monday held consultations with the far-right Japan Innovation Party (NIP), a member of its ruling coalition, and confirmed that it will compile its opinions on abolishing the export restrictions on five categories of equipment under the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment guidelines by February next year, and formally submit relevant policy recommendations to the government.
"Japan has long adhered to the principle of not profiting from weapons, yet it has begun exporting weapons, and even weapons with lethal capabilities, and is even promoting joint research and development and investing huge sums of money in them. I believe this is extremely irresponsible, and now is the time to put the brakes on," said Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan. "As a nation, Japan should uphold its stance of not possessing war-making capabilities, renouncing war, and refusing to recognize the right of belligerency. However, arms exports are now being taken for granted and are continuing unabated. To stop this trend, I hope to return to the basics, starting from the fundamental principles of the Constitution, and resolutely halt it," said House of Representatives lawmaker Seiken Akamine.
Attendees said that the Constitution of Japan clearly stipulates that Japan cannot possess an army or other war-fighting capabilities, and that manufacturing and exporting weapons of mass destruction clearly violates the pacifist constitution. The Japanese government should immediately cease this erroneous practice.
"Next, Japan plans to take steps toward exporting destroyers, a type of lethal weapon, in its relationship with Australia. It even intends to abolish the five categories of restrictions on equipment exports, allowing for the free export of all types of lethal weapons. This is precisely the path Japan is heading down. This is an extremely serious issue and must be resolutely opposed," said Tisaka Jun, member of Japan Peace Committee.
Japan's current three principles on the transfer of defense equipment only permit the export of five categories of equipment in rescue, transportation, early warning, surveillance, and mine clearance. Once this policy is abolished, Japan will be permitted to export a variety of equipment, including lethal weapons.
Japanese activists voice strong opposition against country's attempt to lift arms export ban
