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This Sunday, the nation of CAR will hold a pivotal quadruple election, including the presidential race, parliament, and local seats.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are vying for the top office, among them ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were cleared to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the 2015 and 2020 votes, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers aims to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where conflict remains a constant threat. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the nation," 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 largely predicted 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 chaotic three-year interim, his reputation for impartiality from the warring factions fueled his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Voting Challenges

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and violence could mar the vote, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering protection and organizational aid that the country's weak systems cannot manage.

Further issues include the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a nation with scarce online access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents worry that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would entail expanded sway for foreign actors.

The president has relied on the private military group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a new structure. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to accommodate a Rwandan livestock operation. A pro-opposition editorial charged the leadership of being "determined to sell off the nation bit by bit."

Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of stabilization, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external rivalry.