In the Central African Republic, the National Elections Authority (ANE) announced President Touadéra's victory in the first round of the presidential election held on December 28. According to provisional overall figures, the incumbent president obtained 76.15% of the vote, with a turnout of 52.42%. His opponents trailed far behind: 14.66% for Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and 3.19% for Henri-Marie Dondra. Both opposition candidates denounced the election as fraudulent. This result concludes a long and effective campaign by the presidential camp, which was better prepared and had significantly more resources and leverage than its opponents.

For Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the presidential race did not begin on December 13 with the start of the official campaign. His filing of candidacy at the end of July was accompanied by the awakening of a galaxy of associations and support committees tasked with occupying the ground and mobilizing voters.

This pattern was already observed in 2023 during the constitutional referendum. With the adoption of this new Fundamental Law removing the term limit, it was already clear that the head of state would seek a third term. His supporters therefore had more than two years to secure a first-round victory.

During this time, they hammered home the campaign message about restored stability and the return of the state, the promises of economic benefits from pacification, a message that resonated in a country still traumatized by episodes of civil war.

"Campaign resources superior to those of other candidates"

The president's supporters also encouraged voters to register en masse, while the opposition gave contradictory instructions: the electoral register gained 650,000 voters in two years.

To step up his campaign, the number 1 candidate benefited from the machinery of his party, the United Hearts Movement, backed by the State and powerful businessmen, offering him resources far superior to his opponents, who, moreover, denounced obstacles to campaigning in the provinces, in access to planes and meeting grounds.

“Faustin-Archange Touadera’s victory can be explained by several factors: campaign resources and access to the country and public spaces that were superior to those of other candidates, and a divided opposition that was sometimes hampered by the authorities,” summarizes Charles Bouessel, a consultant for the International Crisis Group (ICG). “President Touadéra was able to highlight his rather positive security record over the past five years, which may have reassured some voters. Finally, the executive branch’s control over the bodies responsible for organizing and validating elections, as stipulated in the 2023 Constitution, makes any challenge to the announced results difficult,” analyzes this regional expert.

Anicet-Georges Dologuélé announces that he will appeal to the Constitutional Council

Opponents of Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé, president of the Unity for Central African Renewal party, which garnered 14.66% of the vote, and Henri-Marie Dondra, of the Republican Unity (UNIR) party, do not recognize the president's victory in the presidential election. They explicitly accuse the National Elections Authority (ANE) of manipulating the figures and will appeal to the Constitutional Council.

Running for the third time, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé wrote to the head of the UN mission to denounce "the least disguised electoral heist in the history of the Central African Republic".

Anicet-Georges Dologuélé had returned to the Central African Republic to rejoin a weakened party just months before the election, after several years abroad, far from the local political scene. He expressed concern for his safety and denounced the "kidnapping" of the soldiers guarding his home on Monday night.

Henri-Marie Dondra had created and structured his own party, Republican Unity (Unir), but was unable to compete in his first campaign. Finishing third with just over 3%, he also announced an appeal and called for the dissolution of the ANE.

With a turnout of 52.42%, many dissatisfied people also certainly felt the election was a foregone conclusion and did not participate in the vote.

The final results will be announced on January 20 by the Constitutional Council. The provisional results of the legislative elections held on December 28 are expected this Wednesday.