Elections were held in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday as President Faustin-Archange Touadera eyes a third term.
Touadera, widely expected to win, has focused his campaign on security and stability in one of the world’s poorest countries, which has long been plagued by conflict.
Quadruple elections in CAR
More than two million voters are expected to cast their ballots in the multi-stage election to elect national, regional and municipal legislatures, as well as the president.
Voting will continue until 5pm UTC on Sunday.
Preliminary results of the elections are expected by January 5.
The opposition field includes six candidates, led by former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuel and Henri-Marie Dondra.
Touadera’s allies had unsuccessfully tried to have him disqualified because he allegedly held foreign citizenship.
Russian mercenaries were stationed in Africa
Touadera’s bid for a third term follows a 2023 constitutional referendum that removed the previous two-term presidential limit.
Opponents and critics say the 68-year-old wants to maintain his grip on power for life.
Touadera, a mathematician, was first elected in 2016 amid a deadly civil war.
He was re-elected in 2020 while facing charges of fraud and an attempt to overthrow the government by six rebel groups.
During his decade in office, Touadera has relied on Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops for security assistance.
CAR was the first country in West and Central Africa to bring in Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in 2018.
Security has been a central theme throughout Touadera’s tenure and campaign. During this year’s election campaign, mercenaries were deployed alongside police and the army on the streets of the capital, Bangui.
Unrest in CAR has eased after Touadera signed peace deals with several rebel groups earlier this year. But the president says the security gains are fragile.
Fighting between armed groups and the government still continues in some areas, while disarmament and reintegration of rebels is incomplete.
A smooth vote could bolster Touadera’s claims that stability is returning to the country.
Edited by: Louis Olofse