CAR Heads to the Voting Stations as President Pursues a Third Term
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, 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 high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent
The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread discontent in a nation where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges remain.
Touadéra's Expected Victory
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance toppled the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his reputation for neutrality 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 mar the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering protection and logistical support that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.
Additional problems involve the voter list being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean expanded sway for foreign actors.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Allegations have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a Rwandan livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.
