CAR witnesses first round of voting

Central African Republic (CAR) witnessed its first round of voting. This has been a major success for the country, in the backdrop of the conflicts it faced between Muslims and Christians; with some such fighting instances occurring in the diamond mining areas of the country, as per reports.

According to reports, Amnesty International alleges illicit diamond trafficking to have given financial aid to rebel groups fighting the government. It may be recalled that CAR was suspended from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in May 2013, a time when its government was deposed by rebel forces. The country continues to be suspended from the KP although in 2015, KP Participants and Observers arrived at an understanding that CAR could begin exporting rough diamonds ‘upon full implementation of an “Operational Framework’” and pending completion of the KP Review Mission report,” reports say.