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This Sunday, the Central African Republic will conduct a crucial quadruple election, including the presidency, parliament, and municipal seats.

A Competitive Race for the Presidency

Seven candidates are vying for the top office, including ex-premiers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Both men were given approval to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé finished second in the last two elections, while Dondra briefly served under the incumbent.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers hopes to tap into widespread discontent in a nation where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are internally displaced, with a comparable figure living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

"This is an chance to acknowledge the significant progress of the nation," said a senior UN diplomat, adding that challenges remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the challenges, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is widely expected to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, triggering a civil war.

After a chaotic transition period, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions powered his runoff win in 2016.

Security Concerns and Voting Challenges

There are fears that supply-chain issues and violence could disrupt the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN peacekeeping mission, Minusca, is offering protection and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure is unable to provide.

Further issues involve the electoral roll being published only online, a significant barrier in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have prompted an opposition boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the electorate."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many citizens fear that another term for Touadéra—enabled by a 2023 charter change that abolished term limits and lengthened mandates—would entail greater influence for outside interests.

The president has relied on the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to fold its fighters into a successor entity. Meanwhile, Rwanda has taken a different approach, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Recent reports have stated the government evicted its own soldiers from a World Bank-funded training centre to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on sell off the country piece by piece."

Amid a newly signed agreement with armed factions offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a cloud of doubt and external competition.