🔗 Share this article

On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the current president.

Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations

The challengers hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in bordering states.

"This is an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges persist.

The Incumbent's Path

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He transitioned into politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

There are fears that logistical problems and violence could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.

Additional problems involve the voter list being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with scarce online access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the population."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many citizens worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended 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 taken a different approach, focusing on business interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the country piece by piece."

Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election moves forward under a shadow of doubt and external rivalry.