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.
The 68-year-old former mathematics professor was widely expected to retain power after the main opposition coalition boycotted the poll, citing concerns over electoral fairness.
Touadéra campaigned heavily on his security record in the chronically unstable country, which has faced persistent violence since rebels seized power in 2013. The crisis prompted the government to enlist support from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers.
His continued hold on power has drawn strong criticism following the adoption of a new constitution in 2023 that removed presidential term limits, allowing him to seek re-election.
More than 2.4 million voters registered for the 28 December general election. Observers described the vote as largely peaceful, despite delays caused by the late arrival of voting materials and problems with the electoral register.
Preliminary results announced late on Monday by the election agency showed 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 respectively.
Both opposition candidates have 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 outcome.
The main opposition coalition, known by its French acronym BRDC, boycotted the election, saying it was unlikely to be fair. The government has denied the allegations.
The Constitutional Court has until 20 January to rule on any legal challenges and declare the final results.
The Central African Republic remains one of Africa’s poorest and most unstable countries, despite its vast natural resources including diamonds and uranium. The UN estimates that about half of the population relies on humanitarian aid.
The landlocked nation has been mired in conflict since 2013, when rebels overthrew then president François Bozizé. A 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 armed groups eased tensions, though six groups later withdrew.
Analysts say Touadéra’s victory could strengthen Russia’s influence in the country. Moscow has provided security assistance in exchange for access to resources such as gold and diamonds.
The Central African Republic was among the first African states where the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organisation, became active, providing security support to Touadéra’s government.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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