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On Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a crucial series of four votes, including the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions.

A Competitive Race for the Presidency

A field of seven contenders are competing for the top office, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were cleared to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread discontent in a country where conflict remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a similar number living as exiles in neighbouring countries.

"This represents an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the country," noted a UN regional official, though he added that challenges remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, 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, holding the post until a insurgent alliance overthrew the government in 2013, sparking a sectarian conflict.

After a turbulent transition period, his perceived neutrality from the main militias powered his second-round victory in 2016.

Election Risks and Voting Challenges

Concerns persist that logistical problems and insecurity could mar the vote, especially in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is providing security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Additional problems include the electoral roll being made available only digitally, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These issues have led to an electoral boycott and could, as noted by analysts, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."

Stakes of a Third Term

Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 constitutional referendum that scrapped term limits and extended mandates—would mean greater influence 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. Meanwhile, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on business ventures within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed facility to make way for a Rwandan livestock operation. A critical editorial accused the leadership of being "determined to dispose of the nation bit by bit."

Amid a recent peace accord with rebel groups offering hope of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of doubt and external competition.