🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidency, national assembly, and municipal seats.

A Competitive Presidential Field

Seven candidates are vying for the top office, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. 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 acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected 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, triggering a civil war.

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

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the population."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.

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

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country piece by piece."

Despite a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a shadow of doubt and external competition.