🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a significant series of four votes, including the presidential race, 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. Both men were given approval to stand 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 incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The opposition hopes to capitalize on widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an chance to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles persist.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.

Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles

There are fears that logistical problems and insecurity could mar the vote, especially in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence 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 integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to make way for a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."

Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external competition.