🔗 Share this article Central African Republic Goes to the Ballot Box as Incumbent Pursues a Third Mandate On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, national assembly, and local positions. A Crowded Presidential Field Seven candidates are vying for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to run 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 Voter Frustrations The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread discontent in a nation where violence remains a daily reality. 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 chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, adding that challenges persist. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a insurgent alliance toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war. After a turbulent three-year interim, 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 insecurity could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage. Additional problems include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have led to an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the population." Stakes of a Third Term Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors. The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR. Allegations of Asset Sales Allegations have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece." Despite a recent peace accord with armed factions offering a glimmer of stabilization, the vote proceeds under a shadow of doubt and external rivalry.