🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a significant quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are competing for the top office, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent

The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," said a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the challenges, 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, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

Additional problems include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.

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 integrate its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have claimed the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country bit by bit."

Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.