Central African Republic.

A statement issued on 25 November by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General informed that the first round of the legislative elections in the Central African Republic took place on 22 November without major incidents, as planned. The 109 seats in the Legislative Assembly were contested by over 800 candidates representing more than 30 political parties, and including 107 independent candidates. According to the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA), voters turnout appeared to be high, especially in the capital, Bangui, with very few irregularities reported.

In accordance with Security Council resolution 1201 (1998) of 15 October, MINURCA played a crucial role in the delivery of electoral materials, as well as in the maintenance of law and order during the electoral process and in the monitoring of the elections. Some 80 United Nations electoral observers were deployed in Bangui and in all regions of the country for this purpose and covered more than the envisaged 25 per cent of the polling stations in Bangui and in the provinces. Security was provided partially by MINURCA. International observation was also carried out by representatives of the European Union and the Francophonie.

The Council also extended MINURCA's mandate until 28 February 1999, at which time it intended for the Mission to be terminated. By adopting resolution 1201 (1998), the Council decided further that the Mission's mandate should include support for the conduct of legislative elections in the Central African Republic. That support would include, in particular: the transport of electoral materials and equipment to selected sites and to the sous-prefectures, as well as the transport of United Nations electoral observers to and from the electoral sites; the conduct of a limited but reliable international

observation of the first and second rounds of the legislative elections; and ensuring the security of electoral materials and equipment during their transport to and at the selected sites, as well as the security of international electoral observers.

The resolution also approved a plan to provide security for the election process and called on the Central African authorities to provide assistance, including security arrangements that would enable the Mixed and Independent Electoral Commission (CEMI) to prepare adequately and freely for the elections.

The Council also requested the Secretary-General to submit by 20 December a report on: the implementation of MINURCA's mandate; developments in the Central African Republic; progress towards the implementation of the commitments made by the country's President to the Secretary-General; and the implementation of the Bangui agreements and the National Reconciliation Act. Furthermore, the Secretary-General was requested to make recommendations concerning the termination of MINURCA.

The Council had taken action on the basis of the Secretary-General's 8 October report on the situation in the Central African Republic, which made recommendations on ways the United Nations could assist in the country's legislative election process. The report stated that government authorities have made substantial progress in the preparations for the elections, but the process was behind schedule. The Secretary-General described a plan developed by MINURCA for United Nations assistance in the elections, including a limited observation of the legislative elections, in close cooperation with other international organizations that might be invited by the Electoral Commission. The Secretary-General also presented options for security during the elections. However, the Secretary-General stressed that the ultimate responsibility for the organization and conduct of the elections must rest with the Commission.

MINURCA was established in March to take over from an inter-African Mission which had a mandate to continue to maintain security and stability in Bangui and to create an environment conducive to the holding of free and fair legislative elections. The Central African Republic had faced three army rebellions prior to the signing of the Bangui Accord on 25 January 1997 as a framework for national reconciliation in the country since the crises.