CAR Goes to the Ballot Box as President Seeks a Third Mandate
On Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a significant quadruple election, including the presidency, national assembly, and local offices.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This represents an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," noted a UN regional official, adding that challenges remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and organizational aid that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.
Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean expanded sway for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a Rwandan livestock operation. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.
