Edinburgh businessman, 43, is bidding to become the next PRESIDENT of the Central African Republic after he became celebrity in his home country as an international basketball player

Edgard Kalambani , a businessman based in Edinburgh, hopes to become president of the Central African Republic - one of the most corrupt and poorest countries in the world

A businessman and former international basketball player based in Edinburgh is hoping to become president of the Central African Republic - one of the most corrupt and poorest countries in the world.

Edgard Kalambani, 43, who is also an ex-holiday chalet manager, is bidding to become leader of the nation, which is ranked 153 out of 180 on Transparency International's corruption index.

The father-of-three hails from the CAR, and hopes to oust Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who came to power in 2016 in the country's first democratic election since a coup by Muslim rebels three years earlier, which prompted a period of sectarian violence.

Mr Kalambani, who lives in Tollcross, Edinburgh, is a celebrity in the CAR having formerly represented the country as an international basketball player, as part of the 2005 FIBA African Championship squad.

The CAR became independent from France in 1960 and 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 would require Mr Kalambani, his Scottish-born wife Elspeth, and the couple's three daughters, aged seven, five and two, to move about 4,000 miles away. (Above, with his family)

Father-of-three Mr Kalambani hails from the CAR, and hopes to oust Faustin-Archange Touadera (pictured at a UN assembly last September), who came to power in 2016 in the country's first democratic election since a coup by Muslim rebels three years earlier, which prompted a period of sectarian violence

Mr Kalambani, who lives in Tollcross, Edinburgh, is a celebrity in the CAR having formerly represented the country as an international basketball player, as part of the 2005 FIBA African Championship squad. (Left, enjoying a round of golf in 2018; right, his basketball player stats)

CAR is ranked 153 out of 180 on Transparency International's corruption index. Above, a Bangladeshi soldier - part of MINUSCA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) - stands guard in Central African Republic at the Cameroon border post on September 22

The elections take place in December - and would require Mr Kalambani, his Scottish-born wife Elspeth, and the couple's three daughters, aged seven, five and two, to move about 4,000 miles away.

Central African Republic in figures

Population: 5,990,855 (July 2020 est.)

Population below poverty line: 62% (2008 est.)

GDP: $2.2billion (2018) 

Gross National Income per capita:: $920 

Religions: Christian (89.5%), Muslim (8.5%), folk (1%), unaffiliated (1%)

Government: Presidential republic

Unemployment rate: 6.9% (2017 est.)

Life expectancy for total population: 54.2 years

Sources: World Bank, www.cia.gov 

WHAT IS THE CORRUPTION INDEX? 

CAR is ranked 153 out of 180 on Transparency International's corruption index. 

The Corruption Perceptions Index scores and ranks countries/territories based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be by experts and business executives. 

It is a composite index, a combination of 13 surveys and assessments of corruption, collected by a variety of reputable institutions. 

The CPI is the most widely used indicator of corruption worldwide. 

To win December's election  in the Central African Republic, Edgard Kalambani will need to defeat ex-president, Francois Bozize, as well as the sitting president, who was formerly Bozize's prime minister.

CAR has suffered several violent crises since 2003 when Bozize seized power in a coup.

The nation has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels.

Mr Kalambani said: 'My wife was born in Scotland and you know the character of Scottish women.

'They are strong and determined and the number one reason why I'm doing this is because she supports me.

'She has never been to Africa, but she supports me because she knows what I'm doing is right. She's the type of person who is always campaigning for equality.'

The couple were living in London when charity worker Elspeth became pregnant with their first child.

Mr Kalambani said: 'My father, before passing away, said 'You know Scotland could be good for you?'

'And I thought 'Scotland, why not? I like whisky and I like shortbread, so why not?'.

'Initially, we planned to have our first child and move to France but then we had two others and we're still here.

'Scotland is like home. I like Scotland. It has a different way of thinking, it's not perfect, but the country is growing and changing in a good way.'

He added: 'I am desperate for a change. 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.'

The CAR is on a list of 28 countries for which the International Monetary Fund yesterday approved new emergency aid to help them alleviate their debt and better cope with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

To win December's election in the Central African Republic, Edgard Kalambani will need to defeat ex-president, Francois Bozize, as well as the sitting president, who was formerly Bozize's prime minister. (Pictured, Bozize at a polling station in May 2005)

Mr Kalambani, who used to live in London, said: 'My father, before passing away, said "You know Scotland could be good for you?" And I thought 'Scotland, why not? I like whisky and I like shortbread, so why not?'

Mr Kalambani (above, with an elderly citizen in CAR) said of his bid to become president: 'I am desperate for a change. 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'

Central African Republic: A violent past, coup and fighting over the country's mineral wealth

To win December's election  in the Central African Republic, Edgard Kalambani will need to defeat ex-president, Francois Bozize, as well as the sitting president, who was formerly Bozize's prime minister.

CAR has suffered several violent crises since 2003 when Bozize seized power in a coup.

The nation has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels.

CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels (above, in March that year)

Christian residents jubilate as Seleka Muslim militias evacuate the Kasai camp in Bangui, Central African Republic, in January 2014

Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 per cent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth.

Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December 2018.

The Central African Republic, a land-locked country bordered by Chad, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, covers 240,000 square miles.