CAR Heads to the Voting Stations as President Aims for a Third Term
On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and local offices.
A Crowded Presidential Field
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a nation where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as exiles in neighbouring countries.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a UN regional official, adding that obstacles remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.
After a chaotic transition period, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his runoff win in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
Concerns persist that logistical problems and violence could mar the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.
Further issues involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a nation with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "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 entail greater influence for outside interests.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Recent reports have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the country piece by piece."
Despite a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a shadow of doubt and external competition.
