This Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and local positions.
A Competitive Presidential Field
A field of seven contenders are competing for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition hopes to tap into widespread frustration in a nation where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the nation," said a UN regional official, adding that obstacles remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.
Additional problems include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments 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 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 integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, 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 critical commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of uncertainty and external competition.
