🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a significant series of four votes, including the presidency, parliament, and municipal seats.

A Crowded Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are vying for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

The opposition hopes to tap into widespread discontent 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 commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that obstacles remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a chaotic transition period, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could disrupt the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering protection and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.

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

Implications of Extended Rule

Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail 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 resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a Rwandan livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the country piece by piece."

Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical competition.