BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Voters in Central African Republic choose new president and federal legislators Incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera looks likely to win a third term on Sunday after attempting to stabilize the country with the help of Russian mercenaries.
Touadera is one of Russia's closest allies in Africa, and analysts say his victory in a third term would likely strengthen Russia's security and economic interests in the country, even as Moscow persons subject to increasing attention regarding the role of their mercenaries in Africa.
The Central African Republic is among the first in Africa to welcome Russian-backed forces, with Moscow seeking to help defend authorities and fight armed groups. This year, however, tensions have risen over Moscow's demand to replace Wagner's private mercenary group with the Russian military unit Afrika Korps.
About 2.4 million voters are registered to vote in Sunday's national elections, which include presidential, legislative, regional and local elections for the first time in decades.
Touadera faces challenges from six candidates, including prominent opposition figures Anise-Georges Dologele and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers.
However, analysts say Touadera is the clear favorite after he strengthened his control over state institutions in recent years.
With Russian support, he has built his campaign on efforts to achieve peace, stability and economic recovery in the country of about 5.5 million people. long tormented by conflict.
The landlocked country of about 5.5 million people has been plagued by fighting between pro-government forces and armed groups, especially since 2013 when predominantly Muslim rebels seized power and ousted then-President Francois Bozizé from office. A 2019 peace deal only partially eased the fighting, and six of the 14 armed groups that signed it later withdrew from the agreement.
“Our country has suffered greatly from brutal regime change, and this cycle repeats itself every ten years. I urge the people of the Central African Republic to choose institutional stability and a prosperous Central African Republic,” Touadera told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
Touadera's closest rival is believed to be Dologele, a candidate in the 2016 and 2020 elections who campaigned to promise to “rebuild the damaged Central African Republic.” Its priorities include sustainable peace and economic recovery based on agriculture and other key sectors.
“President Touadera has ruined everything. Our program is a solid summary of lifting the country out of poverty. What kind of country is this that produces nothing and exports almost nothing except beer? We have to revive the economy,” he said in a recent interview.
Analysts say the most important factor for voters is the country's security situation.
The UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA has been present in the country since 2014. It currently has about 14,000 troops and 3,000 police officers who will help guard polling stations.
“Thanks to the peace agreements, UN peacekeeping efforts, and security support from Wagner and the Rwandans, the country is safer than it was during the last election cycle in 2020,” said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
