CAR Heads to the Ballot Box as Incumbent Aims for a Third Term
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a significant series of four votes, including the presidency, national assembly, and local positions.
A Competitive Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The challengers aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a UN regional official, adding that challenges persist.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected 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 sectarian conflict.
After a chaotic transition period, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, particularly in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues include the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens fear that another term for TouadĂ©raâenabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandatesâwould mean greater influence 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 integrate its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. 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 a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a shadow of doubt and external competition.
