CAR Prepares for the Polls as Incumbent Seeks a Third Term

On Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and municipal positions.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are vying for the presidency, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," noted a UN regional official, 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 first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could disrupt the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.

Further issues involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country bit by bit."

Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external competition.