Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera officially submitted his candidacy Thursday for elections later this year. The filing was handed over at the National Election Authority headquarters in Bangui by the secretary general of his United Hearts Movement.
Touadera told reporters the submission responded to public demands for reassurance about his participation in the upcoming vote. “We have fulfilled a constitutional requirement within the framework of democracy in our country,” he added, affirming procedural compliance.
Presidential, parliamentary, regional, and local elections are scheduled for December 28, with the candidacy deadline set for October 11. Since independence from France in 1960, the country has endured repeated conflicts, though violence has gradually decreased in recent years.
Security remains fragile, particularly along main roads and in eastern regions bordering Sudan and South Sudan, officials warn. First elected in 2016, Touadera is seeking a third term, drawing criticism from opponents who fear indefinite rule.
A new constitution, passed via a 2023 referendum, now permits him to contest another term, paving the legal path forward. Observers say the vote could test the country’s fragile democratic institutions amid ongoing security and political challenges.
