African Union (AU) observers on Tuesday commended the smooth conduct of the elections held Sunday in the Central African Republic (CAR), where the 68-year-old incumbent, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, seeking a third term, is the frontrunner.
First elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, Touadéra adopted a new Constitution in 2023 that allows him to remain in office.
Bernard Makuza, the AU delegation lead and former Prime Minister of Rwanda, hailed the vote as “a step forward for democracy,” noting that the elections complied with current legal procedures.
AU delegates were stationed in three of the 20 prefectures that comprise the Central African Republic.
Makuza noted that the “overall security” of the country enabled the elections to take place in a “general climate of serenity.” He further observed that, according to consistent reports, the electoral process proceeded peacefully throughout the territory, except the Haut-Mbomou prefecture in the southeast, which remains “gripped by high tensions.” Provisional results are expected by January 5. A first-round winner will be declared.
The Constitutional Court is scheduled to announce the final results on January 20.
