Informaticians who worked for the Autorité Nationale des Élections (ANE) during the December 2025 elections are threatening to go on strike in Centrafrique. This significant action, if it proceeds, could highlight severe financial mismanagement within the country's electoral body. The threatened action, reported on May 3, 2026, stems from claims of unpaid wages and alleged embezzlement, casting a shadow over the integrity of electoral processes. The electoral informaticians are demanding resolution for their outstanding payments, emphasizing the critical role they played in the recent elections. Their collective voice shows a growing dissatisfaction with the ANE's financial practices and its responsiveness to staff grievances.
Strike Threat Details
The electoral informaticians claim their fees have remained unpaid for over four months, a period they describe as an unacceptable delay given the key nature of their work. In addition to their basic remuneration, risk premiums and allowances associated with panels of executives and agents have also not been disbursed, further exacerbating their financial hardship. These premiums and allowances were promised as compensation for the demanding and often sensitive tasks undertaken during the electoral period, making their non-payment a breach of trust. The dispute centers on these outstanding financial obligations, which the informaticians assert were part of their agreed-upon compensation for their work during the December 2025 elections. Their collective action aims to compel the Autorité Nationale des Élections (ANE) to address these long-standing payment issues, warning that a strike could severely disrupt future electoral preparations and operations.
Allegations Against ANE Officials
Several internal sources suspect Alain Andjingbo, the Autorité Nationale des Élections (ANE)'s accounting agent, of embezzling millions of CFA francs. These serious allegations are part of the broader financial dispute involving informaticians who worked during the December 2025 elections, pointing to potential corruption at a high level. The claims suggest a systemic issue within the electoral body's financial management, contributing directly to the delays in payments to staff and undermining public confidence in the institution. The alleged embezzlement of such a substantial sum further complicates the ANE's ability to settle its debts and raises questions about financial oversight.
Interviewed agents have also accused Morouba Mathias Barthelémy, the president of the ANE, of covering for his accounting agent rather than taking appropriate action. These agents allege that Barthelémy has failed to address the reported financial irregularities effectively, allowing the situation to persist without intervention and potentially shielding the accused. The informaticians' representatives have indicated that the alleged cover-up exacerbates the atmosphere of distrust regarding the ANE's handling of funds and its commitment to resolving the outstanding wage issues. The accusations suggest a lack of accountability at senior levels within the electoral commission, contributing significantly to the current strike threat and the overall perception of institutional failure. The informaticians are seeking not only their owed payments but also transparency and accountability from the ANE leadership.
Context and Staff Grievances
Permanent staff of the Autorité Nationale des Élections (ANE) are currently owed more than two months of salary arrears, adding to the financial grievances within the electoral body and indicating a wider problem. This situation affects regular employees independently of the informaticians who worked during the December 2025 elections, illustrating a widespread pattern of financial neglect. The outstanding salaries for permanent staff further highlight broader financial management issues at the ANE, suggesting deep-seated problems beyond individual payment disputes. The non-payment of these wages has contributed to a deteriorating work environment and increased pressure on the organization, impacting morale and efficiency across the board. This financial burden on permanent employees compounds the challenges faced by the ANE, already under scrutiny for the delayed payments to electoral informaticians. The accumulation of salary arrears suggests systemic financial difficulties within the institution responsible for electoral processes in Centrafrique, raising concerns about its operational stability and its capacity to fulfill its mandate effectively.
