Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra has won a third term in office after securing an outright majority in last month’s presidential election, according to provisional results released by the country’s election authority.
The 68 year old former mathematics professor was widely expected to win the December 28 poll after the main opposition coalition boycotted the election, citing concerns over transparency and electoral fairness. Preliminary results show Touadéra won 76 percent of the vote.
His closest challengers, former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri Marie Dondra, received 15 percent and 3 percent of the vote respectively. Both have rejected the outcome and called for the results to be annulled, alleging widespread irregularities and fraud. On Friday, Dologuélé said there had been a methodical attempt to manipulate the vote. The government has denied the allegations.
Touadéra campaigned heavily on his security record in a country that has remained deeply unstable since 2013, when rebels seized power and ousted then president François Bozizé. In response to ongoing insecurity, his government enlisted support from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops, a move that has reshaped the country’s security and geopolitical alignments.
The president has faced sustained criticism since a 2023 constitutional change removed presidential term limits, clearing the way for him to seek re election indefinitely. Opposition groups argue the reform undermined democratic norms and consolidated power in the presidency.
More than 2.4 million people were registered to vote in the general election, which observers described as largely peaceful, despite delays caused by the late arrival of voting materials and problems with the electoral register.
The main opposition coalition, known by its French acronym BRDC, boycotted the vote, saying conditions were not in place for a credible election. The Constitutional Court has until January 20 to rule on any legal challenges and formally declare the final results.
The Central African Republic remains one of Africa’s poorest and most fragile states, despite being rich in natural resources such as diamonds and uranium. The United Nations estimates that around half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance.
Analysts say Touadéra’s victory is likely to further strengthen Russia’s influence in the country. The CAR was one of the first African states where the Wagner group became active, providing security to the government in exchange for access to resources including gold and diamonds.
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