Overview
- Citizens cast ballots for presidential, legislative, regional and municipal offices, with about 2.3 million registered voters and more than 6,700 polling stations.
- The incumbent is viewed as the frontrunner following a 2023 constitutional change that removed term limits and cleared the way for a third-term bid.
- Security forces, including the presidential guard and Russia-linked Wagner contractors, accompanied the president to vote as UN MINUSCA armoured vehicles and helicopters patrolled Bangui.
- Part of the opposition boycotted the vote and candidates reported campaign obstacles, including bans on provincial travel and the stripping of Anicet-Georges Dologuele’s CAR passport, which prompted a complaint to the UN human rights office.
- The electoral body accredited more than 1,700 national and international observers, and voting closed at 1700 GMT with at least one Bangui polling station reporting calm proceedings.