CAR Heads to the Polls as Incumbent Pursues a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a pivotal series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and municipal offices.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
A field of seven contenders 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 high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent
The challengers aims to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This is an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, adding that challenges persist.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that logistical problems and violence could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a nation with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to 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—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.
