Ex-PM Touadera Wins Central African Republic Presidential Election

Former Central African Republic Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera has won a presidential runoff, the electoral commission announced on Saturday, helping to restore democracy as a step towards ending inter-religious bloodshed.

Touadera won 62.7 percent of votes cast in the Feb. 14 election, according to provisional results announced by National Elections Authority president Marie-Madeleine Nkouet.

Anicet-Georges Dologuele, also a former prime minister, won 37.3 percent.

Central African Republic, one of the world's most chronically unstable countries, suffered the worst crisis in its history in early 2013 when mainly Muslim Seleka fighters toppled President Francois Bozize.

Christian militias responded to Seleka abuses by attacking the Muslim minority community. A fifth of the population has fled their homes, either internally or abroad, to escape the violence, leaving the impoverished country divided along ethnic and religious lines.

The election results must be certified by the Constitutional Court within eight days to become final.