CAR Prepares for the Ballot Box as President Seeks a Third Term
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a significant series of four votes, including the presidency, national assembly, and municipal seats.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to stand by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a nation 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 neighbouring countries.
"This is an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," 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 largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.
After a chaotic transition period, his perceived neutrality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could disrupt the vote, particularly in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "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 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 new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have claimed the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation bit by bit."
Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external competition.
