🔗 Share this article

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

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders 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 incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread discontent in a nation where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees 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 former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Voting Challenges

There are fears that logistical problems and insecurity could mar the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.

Additional problems involve the voter list being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for outside interests.

The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, 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 different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the country piece by piece."

Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering a glimmer of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.