🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and municipal seats.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

Seven candidates are vying for the top office, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent

The opposition hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a nation where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that challenges persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.

After a turbulent three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the main militias fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles

There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the electorate."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors.

The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation piece by piece."

Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a shadow of doubt and external rivalry.