🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a crucial quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and local seats.

A Competitive Presidential Field

Seven candidates are competing for the top office, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

The opposition hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a country where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," said a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent transition period, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

Concerns persist that logistical problems and violence could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

Additional problems involve the voter list being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These issues have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.

The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country bit by bit."

Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.