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This Sunday, the Central African Republic will undertake a crucial quadruple election, encompassing the presidential race, national assembly, and municipal positions.

A Crowded Presidential Field

Seven candidates are vying for the presidency, including former prime ministers Anicet Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. The two were given approval to stand by the high court after being initially barred. Dologuélé was the runner-up in the last two elections, while Dondra had a short tenure under the current president.

Challengers' Strategy and Public Discontent

The challengers hopes to capitalize on widespread frustration in a country where violence remains a daily reality. Over half a million people are displaced within their own country, with a comparable figure living as exiles in bordering states.

"This is an opportunity to commend the significant progress of the country," said a senior UN diplomat, though he added that challenges remain.

Touadéra's Expected Victory

Despite the competition, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, a former mathematics professor, is largely predicted to extend his run. He first entered politics in 2008 when named prime minister, holding the post until a rebel coalition toppled the government in 2013, sparking a civil war.

After a chaotic three-year interim, his perceived impartiality from the warring factions fueled his runoff win in 2016.

Election Risks and Logistical Hurdles

Concerns persist that supply-chain issues and insecurity could mar the electoral process, particularly in the countryside. The UN stabilization force, Minusca, is offering security and logistical support that the state's crumbling infrastructure cannot manage.

Further issues involve the voter list being made available only digitally, a major hurdle in a country with limited internet access. These irregularities have led to an electoral boycott and could, according to observers, "disenfranchise large segments of the population."

Implications of Extended Rule

Many residents fear that another term for Touadéra—made possible by a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished term limits and extended mandates—would entail greater influence for foreign actors.

The president has put faith in the Russian mercenary group Wagner for personal security, and despite its founder's death, has resisted calls to integrate its fighters into a new structure. In contrast, Rwanda has pursued a separate strategy, focusing on commercial interests within CAR.

Allegations of Asset Sales

Allegations have stated the administration evicted its own soldiers from a internationally financed training centre to make way for a Rwandan agricultural project. A pro-opposition commentary charged the leadership of being "intent on dispose of the nation bit by bit."

Amid a newly signed agreement with rebel groups offering a glimmer of calm, the election proceeds under a shadow of doubt and geopolitical rivalry.