CAR Goes to the Voting Stations as Incumbent Aims for a Third Mandate
This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal series of four votes, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal seats.
A Crowded Presidential Field
A field of seven contenders are competing for the top office, among them former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.
Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent
The opposition aims to tap into widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as exiles in neighbouring countries.
"This represents an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," noted a UN regional official, adding that obstacles persist.
The Incumbent's Path
Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.
After a turbulent transition period, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.
Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles
There are fears that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.
Additional problems include the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate."
Implications of Extended Rule
Many citizens fear that another term for TouadĂ©raâenabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandatesâwould entail greater influence 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 successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.
Claims of National Disposal
Allegations have stated the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run agricultural project. A critical commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit."
Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external rivalry.
