Touadera Secures Third Presidential Term in Central African Republic

Preliminary Results Confirm Touadera's Victory

Faustin-Archange Touadera, the President of the Central African Republic, has won a third term in office, securing a decisive majority in the presidential elections held on December 28, according to preliminary results. The results announced on Monday indicate that Touadera received 76.15% of the votes, while former Prime Minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele garnered 14.66%, and former Prime Minister Henri-Marie Dondra obtained 3.19%.
Voter turnout was recorded at 52.42%. Touadera, a 68-year-old mathematician who has been in power for a decade, called for a third term following a constitutional referendum in 2023 that removed presidential term limits. He campaigned on his security achievements in a nation known for its chronic instability, leaning on the support of Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers. Additionally, he signed peace agreements with several rebel groups this year.
The main opposition coalition, known by its French acronym BRDC, boycotted the elections, claiming they would not be fair. Even before the results were announced, Dologuele and Dondra raised questions about their credibility, holding separate press conferences to denounce what they described as electoral fraud. Dologuele, who finished second in the 2020 elections, stated in a press conference on Friday that there was “a systematic attempt to manipulate” the results. “The Central African people spoke on December 28,” Dologuele said. “They expressed a clear desire for change.” Touadera's government has denied any allegations of fraud. The Constitutional Court has until January 20 to review any challenges and declare the final results.