The installation of new municipal bureaus in the Vakaga prefecture of the République centrafricaine has stalled following the absence of outgoing officials at scheduled sessions. In Birao, the process failed after the outgoing mayor and his team did not attend the meeting intended to finalize the transition. The installation of the new municipal bureau in Birao, Vakaga, failed because the outgoing mayor and his team did not attend the scheduled session. This administrative impasse has created a vacuum in local governance, preventing the newly elected representatives from assuming their official duties and beginning the implementation of local policies.
A similar event occurred on 8 October 2026 in Ouanda-Djallé, where the installation of the new municipal bureau proved unsuccessful. Officials stated that the absence of the outgoing mayor and two municipal councilors prevented the formal transfer of authority. On October 8, 2026, the installation of the new municipal bureau in Ouanda-Djallé failed due to the absence of the outgoing mayor and two municipal councilors. The lack of participation from these outgoing representatives has halted the transition process, leaving the municipal council unable to reach the necessary quorum to conduct business or validate the authority of the incoming administration.
Residents of the commune of Ridina have raised concerns regarding these administrative delays. Members of the local population allege that the Minister of State for Justice, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, is influencing the blockage of the municipal installation. Residents of the commune of Ridina allege that the Minister of State for Justice, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, is influencing the blockage of the municipal installation.
The stalled transitions in both Birao and Ouanda-Djallé have sparked discussions among the local populace regarding the continuity of public services. Because the outgoing teams did not present themselves at the designated times and locations for the transfer of power, the administrative files and keys to municipal facilities have not been handed over to the incoming officials. This has resulted in a standstill for the municipalities, as the new bureaus cannot exercise their legal mandates without the formal completion of the installation ceremonies.
In the case of the Birao failure, the absence of the outgoing mayor and his team was noted by those present for the ceremony, who had gathered to witness the transition. Similarly, in Ouanda-Djallé, the failure on October 8, 2026, was attributed specifically to the non-attendance of the outgoing mayor and two municipal councilors. These individuals, who were expected to facilitate the handover, did not provide a formal explanation for their absence at the scheduled time.
The claims made by the residents of the commune of Ridina regarding the Minister of State for Justice, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène, reflect growing frustration within the prefecture. The allegation that Arnaud Djoubaye Abazène is exerting influence to block these installations has become a focal point of local discourse. The administrative gridlock continues to affect the daily operations of the local government, as the transition of power remains incomplete across these key areas of the Vakaga prefecture. The local population remains expectant of a resolution that would allow the new municipal bureaus to begin their work.
