CAR Prepares for the Ballot Box as President Seeks a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a significant series of four votes, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal seats.
A Crowded Presidential Field
A field of seven contenders are competing for the presidency, including former prime ministers 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 had a short tenure under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
"This represents an chance to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a turbulent transition period, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, especially in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Further issues involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would entail greater influence for outside interests.
The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Recent reports have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external competition.