The Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic has formally validated the controversial re-election of President Faustin-Archange Touadera, cementing his third term in office. The court's ruling on Monday dismissed allegations of fraud from opposition figures, confirming the results of the 28 December presidential poll.
Court Dismisses Appeals and Confirms Landslide Victory
Jean-Pierre Waboe, the President of the Constitutional Council, declared Touadera the outright winner of the first round with 77.9 per cent of the vote. The court rejected an appeal lodged by the main opposition candidate, former Prime Minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele, who secured 13.5 per cent of the vote. Another former premier, Henri-Marie Dondra, who received 2.97 per cent, chose not to appeal in what he described as an effort to preserve national peace.
Dondra told Reuters he made his decision "to preserve peace and avoid reigniting tensions." He called on the president-elect to take measures to reconcile the nation and organise a genuine dialogue to ease the political climate.
Opposition Allegations of Systematic Fraud
The court's final validation follows weeks of dispute. Opponents had alleged irregularities even before the provisional results were announced on 5 January, claims consistently denied by Touadera's government. Both Dologuele and Dondra held separate press conferences to denounce what they termed election fraud.
Dologuele, who was also the runner-up in the 2020 election, stated in early January that there had been "a methodical attempt to manipulate" the outcome. "The Central African people spoke on December 28," he contended. "They expressed a clear desire for change."
Security Record and Deepening Russian Influence
The 68-year-old Touadera, a mathematician who first took power a decade ago, campaigned heavily on his security record. His government has enlisted Russian mercenaries and Rwandan soldiers to help stabilise the chronically unstable nation. He has also signed peace deals with several rebel groups this year.
Analysts suggest his victory will likely further entrench the interests of Russia in the mineral-rich country. Moscow has traded security assistance for access to valuable resources, including gold and diamonds, deepening its geopolitical footprint in the region. The court's decision appears to solidify a political landscape increasingly aligned with Russian support.
