In Bangui, the political air thickened on Wednesday as the runner-up rejected provisional presidential results and alleged widespread fraud.
Anicet Georges Dologuélé said election data had been manipulated by the National Elections Authority after Sunday’s tightly watched national vote.
“We all know more than half the results were ignored,” he said, offering no evidence for his claim.
Provisional tallies showed President Faustin Archange Touadéra winning 76.1 percent, securing a third term with a commanding lead.
Dologuélé was credited with 14.6 percent, far behind a result his camp insists does not reflect reality.
Touadéra’s spokesperson, Evariste Ngamana, dismissed the accusations, calling them the familiar cry of a sore loser.
Final results are expected on 20 January, after an opposition boycott protesting the removal of presidential term limits.
Former prime minister Henri Marie Dondra also demanded cancellation, citing alleged fraud and violations of electoral law.
The country, scarred by years of armed conflict, has increasingly turned towards Russia for security support.
The Wagner mercenary group has protected Touadéra, though tensions have grown over Moscow’s demand to replace it.
Speaking to Russian state media this week, Touadéra praised Vladimir Putin and said he had invited him to visit.
“I consider him one of the most outstanding political figures in the world,” Touadéra said, awaiting a response.
