CAR Heads to the Polls as Incumbent Pursues a Third Mandate
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and local seats.
A Competitive Presidential Field
A field of seven contenders 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 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This is an chance to commend the significant progress of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed 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 neutrality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.
Additional problems include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."
Stakes of a Third Term
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 put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and even after 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 stated the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of doubt and external competition.
