Central African Republic President Touadéra Secures Third Term

Is Touadéra's victory a legitimate mandate for stability, or a fraudulent power grab amid opposition boycotts?

Published 2 days ago

Central African Republic President Touadéra Secures Third Term

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Above: Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera in Paris, on July 25, 2024. Image credit: Richard Bord/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Touadéra won decisively in a largely peaceful election observed by international bodies, including the African Union. After a decade of collapse, his leadership delivered visible security gains, restoring state authority in areas where it had long ceased to exist. Pragmatic cooperation with Russia played a key role in this turnaround, with Russian security support helping stabilize major population centers and secure state institutions, creating the conditions for gradual recovery and renewed national confidence.

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Government-critical narrative

Touadéra’s third-term victory rests on opposition boycotts and allegations of engineered fraud. After term limits were scrapped in 2023, the main opposition coalition refused to participate, arguing the process was structurally rigged. Both leading challengers demanded annulment, citing methodical manipulation of the vote. The backdrop is Touadéra’s deepening alignment with Russia, whose security backing has coincided with shrinking civic space and the concentration of power around the presidency.

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Metaculus Prediction

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.