🔗 Share this article

This Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a significant series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and municipal seats.

A Competitive Race for the Presidency

Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand 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 incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a nation where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.

"This represents an chance to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that challenges persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted 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, sparking a civil war.

After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Voting Challenges

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

Further issues involve 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 population."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for outside interests.

The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation bit by bit."

Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external rivalry.