🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidential race, parliament, and local positions.

A Competitive Presidential Field

Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations

The opposition hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in bordering states.

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

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent three-year interim, his perceived 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 vote, especially in rural areas. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Further issues involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Claims of National Disposal

Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit."

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