A former basketball player from Scotland is hoping to become president of one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Edgard Kalambani, 43, is bidding to become the leader of the Central African Republic (CAR), ranked 153 out of 180 on Transparency International’s corruption index.
The dad of three is originally from the CAR and hopes to oust Faustin-Archange Touadera, who came to power in 2016 in the country’s first democratic election since a coup by Muslim rebels three years earlier.
Edgard lives in Tollcross, Edinburgh, and previously worked as a holiday chalet manager.
He is a celebrity in the CAR, having formerly represented the country as an international basketball player.
The CAR has the world’s lowest income per head, the second lowest level of human development and an enormous diaspora of refugees, mostly Muslims, living in neighbouring countries.
The elections take place in December and the family, including Scottish-born wife Elspeth, and the couple’s daughters, aged seven, five and two, would move more than 5000 miles away if Edgard succeeds.
Edgard said: “I can present a dynamic, positive vision for the future of the country, to challenge corruption, reform governance policies and introduce a fairer economic system.”
