President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic has won a controversial third term in office, securing 76.15% of the vote in the December 28 election, according to provisional results announced Monday.
The 68-year-old former mathematics professor’s victory was widely anticipated, particularly after the main opposition coalition, BRDC, boycotted the polls, citing concerns about fairness.
The election followed a contentious 2023 constitutional referendum that removed presidential term limits, allowing Touadéra to extend his decade-long rule.
He campaigned on his security record, which includes enlisting the help of Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers.
However, his main challengers, former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, have rejected the outcome, alleging widespread irregularities and a “methodical attempt to manipulate” the results.
The government has denied the fraud allegations, and the country’s Constitutional Court has until January 20 to rule on any challenges and finalize the outcome.
