🔗 Share this article CAR Goes to the Polls as President Pursues a Third Stint in Office This Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions. A Competitive Presidential Field Seven candidates are competing for the top office, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to run by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent. Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries. "This represents an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles persist. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict. After a chaotic transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016. Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles Concerns persist that logistical problems and insecurity could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage. Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population." Implications of Extended Rule Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for outside interests. The president has relied on 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 taken a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR. Allegations of Asset Sales Recent reports have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit." Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a cloud of uncertainty and external competition.