🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a pivotal series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and municipal offices.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

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

"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that challenges persist.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a chaotic transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, 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 made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with scarce online access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean expanded sway for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on business ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the country bit by bit."

Despite a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.