CAR Goes to the Voting Stations as Incumbent Seeks a Third Term
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and local offices.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are vying for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread discontent in a nation where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.
"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, adding that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a chaotic transition period, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for outside interests.
The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests 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 agricultural project. A critical commentary charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical competition.