The Central African Republic on Sunday held nationwide elections as President Faustin-Archange Touadera sought a third term in office in a vote taking place against a backdrop of prolonged instability and contested political reforms.
Polling stations opened early in the morning and were scheduled to close in the evening, with more than two million registered voters expected to choose a president alongside legislators and local officials.
Touadera, who has been in power since 2016, is widely projected to secure victory in the first round, though a runoff is предусмотрed if no candidate surpasses the required majority threshold.
The vote follows a controversial constitutional referendum in 2023 that removed presidential term limits, enabling the incumbent to run again and drawing criticism from opposition figures and civil society actors.
Security forces, including police, national troops, and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, were heavily deployed across the capital, Bangui, as voting proceeded.
The elections are being held in a country that has endured intermittent civil war since 2013, with armed groups previously controlling large swathes of territory and pushing state institutions to the brink of collapse.
International support, including the United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSCA and military assistance from Russia and Rwanda, has helped restore a degree of stability in recent years.
Despite these efforts, rebel activity persists, particularly in border areas with Sudan and South Sudan, underscoring the fragile nature of the security environment.
Beyond the presidential race, voters are also selecting parliamentary, municipal, and regional representatives, marking the first local elections in decades for the nation of roughly 5.5 million people.
Touadera faces six challengers, with the most prominent being former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra.
Both candidates remained on the ballot after legal challenges over alleged dual nationality, following constitutional changes requiring candidates to hold only Central African citizenship.
Campaigning was uneven, with Touadera holding large rallies while his main rivals relied on smaller events after being prevented from traveling to provincial areas.
Political analyst Paul Crescent Beninga said “orchestrated” rallies had promoted an image of overwhelming support for the incumbent, while skepticism about electoral transparency remained widespread among voters.
Provisional results are expected in early January, with observers warning that the aftermath of the vote could test the country’s fragile stability.