CAR Prepares for the Ballot Box as Incumbent Seeks a Third Term
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a crucial quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and local positions.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations
The opposition hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This is an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that logistical problems and violence could disrupt the vote, particularly in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering 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 major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the election moves forward under a shadow of uncertainty and external competition.