Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera declared his intention Saturday to seek a third term in December’s presidential elections, despite widespread opposition concerns regarding democratic integrity.
Addressing a gathering of his United Hearts Movement (MCU) party members in the capital Bangui, the 68-year-old leader explicitly responded “yes” to their collective wishes for his renewed candidacy.
Touadera was initially elected head of state in 2016 following French military intervention and a UN peacekeeping deployment, which helped conclude a devastating civil war.
He secured re-election in 2020 during a poll marred by significant unrest and persistent allegations of widespread fraud from various opposition factions.
His fervent supporters laud him as a dedicated peacebuilder who has demonstrably helped restore a measure of security across vast swathes of the country’s challenging terrain.
However, opponents fiercely accuse him of aiming for a lifetime presidency, enabled by a controversial new constitution approved through a 2023 national referendum.
The Republican Bloc for the Defence of the Constitution (BRDC) insists it will only participate in future elections if President Touadera initiates a genuine political dialogue with the opposition.
Despite repeated requests from the opposition and President Touadera’s initial public approval for such discussions, a definitive date for this crucial dialogue remains unset.
Addressing a crowd adorned in his party’s blue and white colors, Touadera sharply denounced the opposition as “radical,” “incompetent,” and thoroughly “corrupt” entities.
The upcoming December elections, originally slated for presidential and lawmaker mandates, are now reportedly combined with municipal elections, repeatedly postponed due to funding shortfalls and electoral list issues.
The Central African Republic has tragically endured consistent conflict and instability since achieving independence from France in 1960, shaping its turbulent modern history.
Although the government formalized a peace process with fourteen rebel groups in 2019, several armed factions regrettably continue to actively fight and maintain their authority across different parts of the nation.
While overall violence has somewhat decreased, the security situation within the country remains highly volatile, particularly in the eastern regions bordering the two Sudans.