President Faustin-Archange Touadéra was sworn in Monday for a third term after a disputed general election.
The seven-year mandate follows a December vote boycotted by opposition parties, who rejected changes made in a 2023 referendum removing term limits.
Touadéra promised at his inauguration to build a sovereign economy and manage the country’s natural resources with transparency and responsibility.
The ceremony in Bangui drew foreign leaders, including the presidents of Congo-Brazzaville and Comoros, observing the constitutional transfer of power.
Opposition figures and civil society activists dismissed the election results, with some denouncing the official 77.9% victory as implausible and illegitimate.
“You have to be a fool to believe that,” civil society activist Frédéric Godoba told reporters, voicing widespread public scepticism.
The Central African Republic has been plagued by conflict since 2013 when mostly Muslim rebels ousted President François Bozizé.
A 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 armed groups reduced hostilities, although six factions later abandoned the agreement entirely.
The country remains a hotspot for Russian Wagner mercenaries, who were first deployed in Africa here, influencing security dynamics and local conflicts.
Analysts warn that Touadéra’s extended mandate could deepen political divides and complicate efforts toward reconciliation and long-term national stability.