President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic has won a third term in office after achieving an outright majority in last month’s presidential election, according to provisional results released by electoral authorities.
The 68-year-old former mathematics professor was widely expected to retain power, particularly after the country’s main opposition coalition boycotted the vote, citing concerns over transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
Touadéra anchored his campaign on improvements in national security in a country long plagued by instability. The Central African Republic has endured persistent violence since rebel forces seized power in 2013, prompting the government to rely on support from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops to combat armed groups.
His continued grip on power has sparked criticism at home and abroad following the adoption of a new constitution in 2023, which removed presidential term limits and paved the way for his re-election bid.
More than 2.4 million voters were registered for the December 28 general election. Election observers described the vote as largely peaceful, though marred by logistical challenges, including delays in the delivery of voting materials and inaccuracies in the electoral register.
Preliminary results announced late Monday show Touadéra secured 76 percent of the vote. His nearest rivals—former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra—trailed far behind with 15 percent and 3 percent respectively.
Both opposition candidates have rejected the outcome and called for the annulment of the results, alleging widespread irregularities and electoral fraud. Dologuélé accused authorities of engaging in “a methodical attempt to manipulate” the vote.
The main opposition coalition, known by its French acronym BRDC, boycotted the election altogether, arguing that the process lacked credibility. The government has firmly denied the accusations.
The country’s Constitutional Court has until January 20 to rule on any legal challenges and to confirm the final election results.
Despite possessing significant natural resources, including diamonds and uranium, the Central African Republic remains among Africa’s poorest and most fragile nations. According to the United Nations, nearly half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance.
The landlocked country has been engulfed in conflict since 2013, when rebel groups toppled then-president François Bozizé. Although a 2019 peace agreement between the government and 14 armed factions helped reduce violence, six of those groups later withdrew, leaving the security situation fragile.
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