🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a significant quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal seats.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition aims to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

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

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent transition period, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016.

Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles

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

Further issues include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet 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 Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean expanded sway for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in 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 successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation bit by bit."

Despite a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external rivalry.