🔗 Share this article CAR Prepares for the Polls as President Pursues a Third Stint in Office On Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions. A Crowded Race for the Presidency A field of seven contenders are vying for the presidency, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to run by the high court after initial bans. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president. Opposition Hopes and Public Discontent The challengers hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. More than half a million people are internally displaced, with a similar number living as refugees in neighbouring countries. "This is an chance to commend the remarkable recovery of the nation," noted a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain. Touadéra's Expected Victory Despite the challenges, 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 insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, triggering a sectarian conflict. After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived neutrality from the warring factions powered his second-round victory in 2016. Security Concerns and Voting Challenges There are fears that logistical problems and violence could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage. Further issues involve the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "exclude many of the population." Implications of Extended Rule Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for outside interests. The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has pushed back against calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR. Claims of National Disposal Allegations have claimed the administration removed its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition editorial accused the leadership of being "intent on sell off the nation piece by piece." Despite a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election moves forward under a shadow of uncertainty and geopolitical competition.