Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has secured a third term in office after provisional results showed him winning an overwhelming majority in last month’s presidential election.
According to figures released by the electoral authority, Touadéra won around 76% of the vote in the 28 December poll. The outcome had been widely anticipated after the main opposition coalition boycotted the election, raising concerns over transparency and fairness.
The 68-year-old former mathematics professor campaigned heavily on his security credentials in a country that has endured years of instability. Since a rebel takeover in 2013 plunged CAR into conflict, his government has relied on foreign military support, including Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops, to shore up its control.
Touadéra has faced sustained criticism since constitutional changes adopted in 2023 removed presidential term limits, clearing the way for him to run again. Critics argue the amendments weakened democratic safeguards and entrenched his grip on power.
More than 2.4 million voters were registered for the election, which observers described as largely calm, despite logistical problems such as late delivery of voting materials and flaws in the electoral register.
His nearest rivals, former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, came a distant second and third with about 15% and 3% of the vote respectively. Both have rejected the provisional results, accusing authorities of widespread irregularities and fraud, and have called for the vote to be annulled.
Media quoted Dologuélé as saying there had been a “methodical attempt” to manipulate the outcome. The government has dismissed the allegations.
The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on any legal challenges and announce the final results by 20 January.
CAR remains one of Africa’s poorest and most fragile states, despite its vast natural resources, including diamonds and uranium. The United Nations estimates that around half of the population depends on humanitarian assistance.
Although a 2019 peace agreement between the government and multiple armed groups eased tensions, several factions later withdrew, leaving large parts of the country unstable. Analysts say Touadéra’s re-election is likely to further strengthen Russia’s influence in CAR, where Moscow has expanded its presence through security cooperation tied to access to gold and diamond resources.