🔗 Share this article

This Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a significant series of four votes, including the presidential race, parliament, and local seats.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are competing for the top office, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.

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

Touadéra's Expected Victory

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 insurgent alliance toppled the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security 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 limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean 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 resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have claimed the government evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the nation bit by bit."

Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.