CAR's Peaceful Election Offers Hope Amid Deep-Seated Challenges

BANGUI, Central African Republic – December 29, 2025

Citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) cast their ballots in a general election on Sunday that concluded with a sense of relief and unexpected tranquility across the nation. In a country long defined by coups and civil conflict, the peaceful and orderly conduct of the vote, marked by significant civic participation, is being hailed by observers as a potential, albeit fragile, step forward. As the nation awaits preliminary results, however, the calm of election day stands in stark contrast to the turbulent political landscape and profound humanitarian crises that continue to shape its future.

A Day of Unexpected Calm

From the capital, Bangui, to remote regions, approximately 2.4 million eligible voters turned out to choose their next president, 140 members of the National Assembly, and local officials. Polling stations, numbering 6,700 across the country, closed at 6:00 p.m. local time without the major security incidents that many had feared.

The leading domestic observation network, Réseau Arc-en-Ciel (RAC), confirmed a calm atmosphere and a high degree of civic engagement nationwide. Their assessment was echoed by international observer missions from the African Union and the European Union. European observers visiting polling stations in Bangui noted the organized process and steady presence of voters, expressing positive initial impressions. This peaceful exercise of democracy is a significant achievement in a nation where violence has historically been a common route to power and where armed groups still control vast swathes of territory.

The National Elections Authority (A.N.E.) is tasked with the considerable challenge of tabulating the votes and is scheduled to announce preliminary results on January 5, 2026. If no presidential candidate secures an absolute majority, a runoff is planned for February 2026.

A Contested Political Landscape

Despite the orderly voting process, the political environment preceding the election was fraught with tension and controversy. Incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra is seeking a third 7-year term, a bid made possible by a contentious 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished presidential term limits. The move was decried by opposition parties and civil society groups as a power grab designed to establish a presidency for life, undermining the country's nascent democratic institutions.

Seven candidates ultimately contested the presidency, but the path to the ballot was not smooth for Touadéra's main challengers. Former Prime Ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra were initially barred from the race before the Constitutional Council reinstated their candidacies in mid-November, leaving them with limited time to campaign effectively. This, combined with what critics call the government's near-total control of state media and resources, created what Human Rights Watch described as an unequal political environment.

Citing these deep-seated inequities, the main opposition coalition, the Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution, announced a boycott of the election in October. This decision has led analysts to predict a comfortable victory for Touadéra and a parliament dominated by his United Hearts Movement (MCU). While the peaceful vote is being celebrated, the lack of a robust, unified opposition participating in the process raises serious questions about the long-term legitimacy of the outcome and the potential for increased political repression.

The Shadow of Foreign Influence and Security

Underpinning the current regime's stability is a complex and controversial security arrangement. President Touadéra's government relies heavily on support from Rwandan troops and Russian mercenaries, including forces linked to the Wagner Group. This alliance was instrumental in thwarting a rebel coalition's advance on Bangui in late 2020 and has since helped government forces retake some territory. However, this security has come at a steep price.

Reports from human rights organizations have documented widespread abuses by government forces and their Russian allies, including summary executions, torture, and rape, often with complete impunity. Furthermore, analysts fear that the country's sovereignty is being eroded as its valuable mineral resources, such as diamonds and gold, are allegedly exploited to pay for these mercenary services, with little benefit flowing to the impoverished population.

While election day was secure in major towns, the broader security situation remains fragile. Pockets of insecurity persist, and fighting continues in rural areas between state forces and remnants of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC). The United Nations has repeatedly voiced concerns about the limited capacity of state institutions, particularly with the ongoing drawdown of its MINUSCA peacekeeping mission, which could impact the safety and credibility of future polls and overall stability.

Beyond the Ballot Box: An Enduring Humanitarian Crisis

Regardless of the election's outcome, the new government will inherit a nation grappling with one of the world's most severe and underfunded humanitarian crises. An estimated 38% of the population requires humanitarian assistance, and as of mid-2025, over 1.2 million Central Africans were either internally displaced or living as refugees in neighboring countries. The conflict in Sudan has only exacerbated this, driving a new influx of refugees and returnees into a country already stretched to its limits.

The social fabric is tearing under the strain. According to the UN, seven out of ten children do not attend school regularly. Women and girls face extreme vulnerability, with high rates of gender-based violence and a critical lack of maternal and clinical services. Aid agencies operate in one of the most dangerous environments for humanitarian workers, facing constant threats that hinder their ability to deliver life-saving assistance. Funding shortfalls are dire; the UN's humanitarian appeal for $326.1 million in 2025 was only 32% funded by the halfway point of the year, forcing organizations to scale back essential programs.

For the vast majority of Central Africans living hand-to-mouth, the political maneuvering in Bangui has done little to improve daily life. The country remains one of the poorest on earth, crippled by weak governance, inadequate infrastructure, and the enduring consequences of conflict. As the votes are counted, the hope generated by a single day of peace faces the immense task of overcoming decades of instability and addressing the profound human suffering that persists far from the ballot box.