CAR Heads to the Ballot Box as President Pursues a Third Mandate
On Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a crucial quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, parliament, and local seats.
A Competitive Presidential Field
Seven candidates are competing 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 current president.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, adding that obstacles remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, particularly in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Additional problems include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean expanded sway for outside interests.
The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the country bit by bit."
Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and external rivalry.
