Bangui, Central African Republic – Incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been re-elected for a third term, clinching a decisive first-round victory with over 76% of the vote in the December 28, 2025, polls, according to provisional results announced by the National Elections Authority on January 6, 2026.
The 68-year-old former mathematician and prime minister, who first assumed power in 2016 amid the country’s lingering civil conflict, campaigned heavily on promises of stability in a nation scarred by decades of instability. Touadéra’s United Hearts Movement positioned him as the guarantor of relative peace, highlighting improvements in security, infrastructure projects in the capital Bangui—such as paved roads, public lighting, and renovated drainage systems—and social initiatives like free healthcare for women and children, alongside increased education funding.
Provisional figures show Touadéra garnering 76.15% of the votes cast, far ahead of his closest rival, former Prime Minister Anicet-Georges Dologuélé, who secured approximately 15% (or 14.6% in some reports). Henri-Marie Dondra trailed in third place with around 3%. Voter turnout hovered at about 52%, with citizens also electing national legislators, municipal councils, and local officials in the multipronged ballot.
The election unfolded against a backdrop of deep political division. Parts of the opposition coalition boycotted the process, denouncing it as flawed and lacking inclusive dialogue. Dologuélé prematurely claimed victory days after the vote, alleging widespread irregularities, including fraud. Dondra echoed calls for annulment. A spokesperson for Touadéra dismissed these accusations as “false” and cautioned against potential unrest. Final results, pending any appeals, are expected in mid-January.
Campaigning was fraught with challenges for opposition figures. Dologuélé and Dondra reported restrictions on travel to provincial rallies, forcing them to rely on local walkabouts, school events, and party gatherings in Bangui. Both candidates also faced threats of disqualification over unproven claims of dual citizenship.
African Union observers noted that voting proceeded peacefully overall, a marked contrast to the violence that has plagued previous elections in the Central African Republic (CAR).
Since independence from France in 1960, CAR has endured a cycle of coups, authoritarian rule, and civil wars, with the most recent conflict erupting in 2013. Touadéra’s 2016 election marked a fragile transition, but unrest persisted as rebel groups controlled vast swathes of territory.
His administration’s 2019 peace accord integrated 14 armed factions into the government in exchange for militia disarmament—a move credited with reducing large-scale violence, though skirmishes continue in remote areas.
Touadéra’s close ties to Russia have drawn intense scrutiny. Critics dub him “President Wagner” for his reliance on Russian paramilitaries, formerly from the Wagner Group (now restructured under Moscow’s Africa Corps), who have bolstered government forces since 2018 in exchange for mining concessions in gold and diamonds. This alliance has deepened Russia’s footprint in CAR, with Touadéra recently inviting President Vladimir Putin for a state visit following his re-election.
Despite these gains, profound challenges remain. Approximately 71% of the population lives below the poverty line, grappling with inadequate basic services, impassable roads outside major cities, rampant unemployment, low education levels, and rising living costs. International donors fund many of Touadéra’s touted achievements, underscoring the country’s dependence on external aid.
As Touadéra embarks on an extended seven-year term—enabled by a controversial 2023 constitutional referendum—questions linger over whether his mandate will foster genuine reconciliation or entrench divisions in one of Africa’s most fragile states.
