CAR Prepares for the Polls as Incumbent Pursues a Third Stint in Office
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and local positions.
A Crowded Race for the Presidency
A field of seven contenders are vying for the presidency, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.
Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations
The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in bordering states.
"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," said a UN regional official, 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 extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.
After a chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.
Additional problems include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the population."
Stakes of a Third Term
Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum 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 his protection, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business interests within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Recent reports have claimed the government evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country piece by piece."
Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external rivalry.
