In office since 2016, President Faustin-Archange Touadera is projected to win the first round of vote.By News AgenciesPublished On 28 Dec 202528 Dec 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareThe Central African Republic (CAR) is holding the presidential election, with incumbent Faustin-Archange Touadera projected to secure another term in the conflict-ridden country.Polling stations opened at 05:00 GMT on Sunday and will close at 17:00 GMT, with 2.3 million voters expected to elect their president, legislators, as well as municipal and regional representatives.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listTouadera, who has been in office since 2016, is likely to win the first round of voting. However, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, a runoff election will be held.The 68-year-old incumbent is running for office following a controversial constitutional referendum in 2023 that allowed him to serve additional terms.The campaign unfolded without significant incidents, with the exception of the most credible opposition figures, Anicet-Georges Dologuele and former prime minister and critic Henri-Marie Dondra, being prevented from flying to the provinces to hold rallies. A campaign billboard of presidential candidate Anicet-Georges Dologuele, of URCA party [File: Leger Serge Kokpakpa/Reuters]Security forces were omnipresent in the capital’s streets, with a significant deployment of police, army, and the Russian Wagner Group mercenaries.The elections are taking place against the backdrop of a civil war that has been ongoing since 2013 and has brought the state to the brink of collapse, with armed groups controlling large parts of the country at times.International peace missions, including the United Nations mission in the CAR, MINUSCA, as well as military support from Russia and Rwanda, have helped to partially stabilise the situation in recent years. Advertisement Nevertheless, rebels remain active, especially in the border regions with Sudan and South Sudan.In addition to the presidential election, parliamentary elections and, for the first time in decades, local elections are also being held on Sunday in the country of some 5.5 million inhabitants.Touadera was re-elected in 2020, in a vote marred by allegations of fraud and an uprising by six rebel groups attempting to overthrow the government.The rebels were pushed back due to an intervention by the Rwandan army and Russian mercenaries.‘Orchestrated’ ralliesAccording to political scientist and civil society figure Paul Crescent Beninga, “orchestrated” rallies have taken place across the country to plant the idea that Touadera enjoys widespread popular support.Images of the incumbent have flooded the capital, with neon signs, giant portraits and T-shirts bearing his likeness seen everywhere on the s …
