CAR Goes to the Polls as President Aims for a Third Term

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and local positions.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in bordering states.

"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles remain.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

There are fears that logistical problems 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 cannot manage.

Additional problems involve the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a foreign-run agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit."

Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.