CAR Goes to the Voting Stations as President Pursues a Third Stint in Office
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a pivotal series of four votes, including the presidency, national assembly, and local positions.
A Competitive Race for the Presidency
Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.
Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations
The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a constant threat. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.
"This is an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent three-year interim, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016.
Election Risks and Voting Challenges
There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the vote, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Additional problems involve the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors.
The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.
Allegations of Asset Sales
Allegations have stated the government removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the country piece by piece."
Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and external competition.
