CAR Prepares for the Polls as President Pursues a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a significant quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal seats.
A Crowded Presidential Field
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two 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 Public Discontent
The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a nation where conflict 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 is an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, 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, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could disrupt the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage.
Additional problems involve the voter list being published only online, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to sell off the nation piece by piece."
Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of stabilization, the election moves forward under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical competition.
