CAR Heads to the Voting Stations as President Seeks a Third Term
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, parliament, and local offices.
A Competitive Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared 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.
Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent
The opposition hopes to tap into widespread frustration in a nation where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as exiles in bordering states.
"This represents an chance to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a senior UN diplomat, though he added that obstacles remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to secure another term. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a chaotic transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Voting Challenges
Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems is unable to provide.
Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an electoral 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 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean greater influence for foreign actors.
The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have claimed the administration evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the nation 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 geopolitical competition.