🔗 Share this article CAR Prepares for the Polls as President Aims for a Third Mandate On Sunday, the Central African Republic will hold a pivotal quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and municipal positions. A Crowded Race for the Presidency Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two 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 current president. Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent The challengers aims to tap into widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries. "This is an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a UN regional official, adding that challenges remain. The Incumbent's Path 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, serving until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict. After a chaotic transition period, his reputation for neutrality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016. Security Concerns and Logistical Hurdles Concerns persist that logistical problems and violence could mar the electoral process, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the country's weak systems is unable to provide. Additional problems include the voter list being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with scarce online 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 citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for outside interests. The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary 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. In contrast, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Recent reports have claimed the government removed its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a foreign-run livestock operation. A critical commentary accused the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation piece by piece." Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.