Touadéra secures third term in Central African Republic amid opposition boycott

By The Inspirer.

Bangui, Central African Republic — President Faustin Archange Touadéra has been reelected for a third term, according to provisional results released by the country’s election authority late Monday.

Touadéra, 68, won 76.15% of the vote in last month’s presidential election, which was boycotted by the country’s main opposition coalition following a controversial constitutional referendum that removed presidential term limits.

Although six candidates were officially registered to contest the presidency, the leading opposition alliance declined to participate, citing what it described as an uneven political playing field.

Approximately 2.4 million citizens were registered to vote in what authorities described as a historic election, with voters casting ballots simultaneously for presidential, legislative, regional and municipal offices for the first time in the country’s history.

However, the outcome has already been challenged. Two opposition candidates have rejected the provisional results, alleging widespread fraud and irregularities by the national elections authority. Anicet Georges Dologuélé, who was declared runner-up with 14.66%, proclaimed himself the winner on Friday.

Political analysts say Touadéra has steadily consolidated power across key state institutions since first taking office.

The Central African Republic has remained fragile since 2013, when predominantly Muslim rebels overthrew then-president François Bozizé, plunging the country into years of conflict. A 2019 peace agreement between the government and 14 armed groups helped reduce violence, though six factions later withdrew from the deal.

The country has also been a key theater for the activities of Wagner, the Russian private military group that has provided security for Touadéra. Relations between Bangui and Moscow have reportedly become strained after Russia sought to replace Wagner with its state-run African Corps.

Security remained a central concern for voters, despite a relative decline in violence. Meanwhile, the United Nations peacekeeping mission (Minusca), deployed since 2014, is preparing for a drawdown due to financial constraints.