🔗 Share this article CAR Prepares for the Ballot Box as Incumbent Aims for a Third Mandate This Sunday, the nation of CAR will undertake a significant quadruple election, encompassing the presidency, national assembly, and local seats. A Competitive Race for the Presidency Seven candidates are competing for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president. Challengers' Strategy and Voter Frustrations The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in bordering states. "This represents an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a senior UN diplomat, adding that obstacles persist. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a civil war. After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016. Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and organizational aid that the country's weak systems is unable to provide. Additional problems involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a nation with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the electorate." Stakes of a Third Term Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway 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 new structure. 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 World Bank-funded facility to accommodate a foreign-run agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary accused the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation bit by bit." Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering hope of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and external competition.