Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera is officially beginning his second term Tuesday, a day after the Constitutional Court confirmed his election victory last month.
The country’s highest court said the turnout was suppressed by armed groups, which impacted voters’ ability to cast their ballots.
Following the court’s announcement, President Touadera said he is willing to have talks with those wishing to work toward peace and the development of the impoverished country, but not with those who want to drag Central African Republic into blind violence, adding justice will deal with them.
Opposition candidates angered over Touadera’s win say the election was rife with fraud and irregularities.
The Constitutional Court ruled those claims were not legitimate, but that has not stopped the violence.
The rebels, protesting Touadera’s re-election on Dec. 27, attempted to overtake the capital, Bangui, just last week.
Now, Touadera’s ability to quell the violence and begin working on his administration’s agenda may hinge largely on the help he relies on from U.N. peacekeeping forces and military support from Russia and Rwanda.
