CAR Prepares for the Polls as Incumbent Pursues a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and local offices.
A Competitive Presidential Field
Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to capitalize on widespread discontent in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles persist.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.
Further issues include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a different approach, 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 training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election moves forward under a shadow of uncertainty and external rivalry.
