Central African Republic votes as Touadera seeks third presidential term

In office since 2016, President Faustin-Archange Touadera is projected to win the first round of vote.Published On 28 Dec 2025The 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 itemslist 1 of 4Central African Republic election: Who’s running and what’s at stake?list 2 of 4ICC convicts Central African Republic rebels over war crimeslist 3 of 4The ‘ghost reporters’ writing pro-Russian propaganda in West Africalist 4 of 4Central African Republicend 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.