CAR Prepares for the Voting Stations as Incumbent Aims for a Third Term
On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a significant series of four votes, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal offices.
A Competitive Race for the Presidency
A field of seven contenders are competing for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to tap into widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.
"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that challenges persist.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.
Further issues include the voter list being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with scarce online access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the electorate."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation bit by bit."
Despite a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of stabilization, the election moves forward under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical competition.
