CAR Goes to the Polls as Incumbent Seeks a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and municipal offices.
A Crowded Presidential Field
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to run by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.
"This is an chance to commend the significant progress of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a chaotic transition period, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
There are fears that logistical problems and violence could mar the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of doubt and external rivalry.