CAR Goes to the Voting Stations as Incumbent Seeks a Third Term
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and local offices.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are vying for the top office, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations
The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.
Further issues involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, 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 electorate."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Allegations have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.
