CAR Goes to the Polls as President Aims for a Third Term
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and local positions.
A Competitive Presidential Field
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.
Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations
The opposition hopes 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 bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that obstacles persist.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, 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, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016.
Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles
Concerns persist that logistical problems and insecurity could mar the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.
Additional problems involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with scarce online access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for outside interests.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has taken 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 World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece."
Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external competition.
