🔗 Share this article CAR Goes to the Ballot Box as Incumbent Pursues a Third Term On Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and local 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 cleared to run by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president. Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent The challengers aims to tap into widespread discontent in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries. "This is an opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable recovery of the country," noted 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 transitioned into politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict. After a turbulent transition period, his perceived neutrality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016. Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles There are fears that logistical problems and insecurity could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the country's weak systems cannot manage. Further issues include the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "exclude many of the electorate." 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 mean expanded sway for outside interests. The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business interests within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation bit by bit." Amid a recent peace accord with armed factions offering a glimmer of stabilization, the election proceeds under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.