CAR Prepares for the Voting Stations as President Aims for a Third Term
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and municipal offices.
A Crowded Presidential Field
Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent
The opposition hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where violence remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles persist.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the challenges, 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, triggering a civil war.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, particularly in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.
Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for outside interests.
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 fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation bit by bit."
Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of doubt and external rivalry.
