CAR Goes to the Voting Stations as President Pursues a Third Mandate
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, parliament, and municipal offices.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them 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 finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The challengers aims to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This represents an chance to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, adding that challenges remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that logistical problems and insecurity could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to sell off the nation bit by bit."
Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical competition.
