🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and local offices.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are competing for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to run by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

"This is an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a senior UN diplomat, though he added that obstacles persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.

Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles

There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

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

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation piece by piece."

Despite a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and external competition.