CAR Heads to the Polls as President Seeks a Third Stint in Office

This Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a crucial quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, parliament, and local offices.

A Competitive Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are competing for the top office, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the high 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 Voter Frustrations

The opposition hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in bordering states.

"This is an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.

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

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the country's weak systems 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 led to an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."

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 entail greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in 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 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 World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."

Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of stabilization, the election moves forward under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical competition.