🔗 Share this article

This Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a crucial series of four votes, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal seats.

A Crowded Presidential Field

A field of seven contenders are competing for the presidency, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent

The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a nation where conflict remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles persist.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a chaotic transition period, his perceived impartiality 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 rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.

Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean expanded sway for foreign actors.

The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Recent reports have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."

Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical competition.