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Central African Republic Vote Ends Quietly as Touadéra Seeks Third Term

Preliminary results are due January 5 after a calm, heavily secured vote that opposition figures questioned.

Overview

  • Central Africans voted December 28 in presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections, with approximately 2.3 million registered across more than 6,700 polling stations.
  • Domestic observers from Réseau Arc-en-Ciel reported an orderly process with no serious incidents and noted strong participation in many areas.
  • Security in Bangui was highly visible, with the presidential guard and Wagner contractors escorting Faustin-Archange Touadéra and UN MINUSCA armored vehicles positioned at key junctions.
  • Opposition figures alleged campaign restrictions and some called for a boycott, and leading challenger Anicet-Georges Dologuélé had his Central African passport revoked in October despite filing a complaint to the UN rights office.
  • The electoral body accredited more than 1,700 observers, and if no candidate wins an absolute majority, a runoff is scheduled under rules that set seven-year terms.