🔗 Share this article

This Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and municipal seats.

A Competitive Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are vying for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to tap into widespread discontent in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that challenges remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the challenges, 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 toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.

After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Voting Challenges

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.

Additional problems include the voter list being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the country piece by piece."

Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.