🔗 Share this article CAR Prepares for the Voting Stations as President Pursues a Third Term On Sunday, the nation of CAR will conduct a crucial series of four votes, encompassing the presidency, parliament, and municipal positions. A Competitive Presidential Field A field of seven contenders are vying for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to stand by the constitutional court after initial bans. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent. Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent The challengers hopes to tap into widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as refugees in bordering states. "This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that obstacles persist. The Incumbent's Path Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a one-time academic, is widely expected to secure another term. He first entered politics in 2008 when appointed prime minister, serving 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 powered his runoff win in 2016. Security Concerns and Voting Challenges Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, particularly in rural areas. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and organizational aid 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 country with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population." Stakes of a Third Term Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors. The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and even after its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a successor entity. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Allegations have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A critical editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the country piece by piece." Despite a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the vote proceeds under a cloud of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.