CAR Heads to the Polls as President Pursues a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, parliament, and local seats.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are vying for the top office, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in bordering states.
"This represents an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that challenges persist.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his reputation for neutrality from the main militias powered his runoff win 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 peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.
Additional problems include the voter list being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external rivalry.
