🔗 Share this article CAR Prepares for the Polls as Incumbent Aims for a Third Stint in Office On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a crucial series of four votes, including the presidency, national assembly, and local offices. A Competitive Presidential Field Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent. Opposition Hopes and Voter Frustrations The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries. "This is an opportunity to acknowledge the significant progress of the country," said a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles persist. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict. After a chaotic transition period, his perceived impartiality from the main militias fueled his runoff win in 2016. Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles There are fears that logistical problems and violence could disrupt the electoral process, especially in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the country's weak systems is unable to provide. Further issues involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population." Stakes of a Third Term Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors. The president has put faith in the private military group Wagner for his protection, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on business ventures within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation piece by piece." Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and geopolitical competition.