🔗 Share this article Central African Republic Heads to the Polls as Incumbent Pursues a Third Term On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a crucial quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and municipal seats. A Competitive Race for the Presidency Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to stand by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent. Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent The opposition aims to tap into widespread frustration in a nation where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries. "This represents an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the nation," noted a UN regional official, adding that obstacles persist. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict. After a turbulent transition period, his perceived impartiality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016. Security Concerns and Voting Challenges Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt 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. Additional problems include the electoral roll being published only online, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate." Stakes of a Third Term Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would mean expanded sway for outside interests. The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Allegations have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the country bit by bit." Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.