By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Council on Monday confirmed the victory of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra for a third term in office, following the last month’s polls despite demonstrations by opposition over alleged fraud, manipulations and irregularities.
The Council announced that President Touadéra secured 77.9% of the vote, a slight increase from the 76.15% reported in the provisional results by the electoral body earlier this month.
His main challenger and runner-up, Anicet Georges Dologuélé, received 13.1%, a reduction from the 14.66% previously announced.
The body also dismissed an appeal filed by Dologuélé, seeking the annulment of the election for not supporting his claim with adequate evidence.
The main opposition candidate had contested the results on Jan. 6, citing instances of alleged malpractice by the National Elections Authority and widespread fraud.
Dologuélé had also earlier this month proclaimed himself the winner of the election. His party, the Union for Central African Renewal, said in a Facebook post that it accepted the ruling in a” spirit of republican responsibility” but said its struggle would continue.
“Our fight has never been one of disorder. It is about electoral truth, the sovereignty of the people and respect for democratic rules,” Dologuélé’s spokesperson, Yves Sanghamy, said.
Analysts say Touadéra has consolidated power within state institutions. In 2023, a controversial referendum removing term limits was approved, allowing him to run for a third term.
The country has been embroiled in conflict since 2013 after mostly Muslim rebels seized power and forced then-President François Bozizé out of office.
The conflict was de-escalated by a 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 armed groups.
The Central African Republic is one of the countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, was first active in Africa.
