Central African Republic Heads to the Ballot Box as Incumbent Pursues a Third Term

This Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, national assembly, and local positions.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

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

"This is an chance to commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," said a senior UN diplomat, though he added that obstacles persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.

After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived neutrality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Additional problems include the voter list being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many 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 lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation bit by bit."

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