CAR Heads to the Ballot Box as President Pursues a Third Term
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal series of four votes, including the presidency, national assembly, and municipal seats.
A Competitive Presidential Field
A field of seven contenders are competing for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to run by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in bordering states.
"This represents an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and extended 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 successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical rivalry.
