By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has secured a third term in office ofter winning an outright majority in last month’s presidential election in Central African Republic (CAR), provisional results show.
Touadéra, 68 was widely expected to win after the main opposition coalition boycotted the poll, citing concerns about electoral fairness.
A mathematics professor, Touadéra campaigned on his security record in the largely unstable nation after rebels seized power in 2013, a crisis that led the government to enlist support from Russian mercenaries the Wagner and Rwandan soldiers.
He has has been heavily criticised over a 2023 constitution amendment that removed term limits, a development that allows him to keep running for office.
More than 2.4 million people registered for the 28 December general election which experienced late arrival of voting material and problems with the electoral register.
Touadéra secured 76% of the vote, according to preliminary results announced late on Monday by the election agency.
His closest challengers, Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers, received 15% and 3% of the vote respectively.
Both have called for the cancellation of the election, alleging widespread irregularities and fraud.
On Friday, Dologuélé said there had been “a methodical attempt to manipulate” the outcome.
The main opposition coalition BRDC, boycotted the election, saying it was unlikely to be fair. The government has denied the claims.
The Constitutional Court has until 20 January to rule on any challenges and declare the final results.
The CAR is one of Africa’s poorest and most unstable countries, even though it is rich in resources such as diamonds and uranium.
The UN estimates that about half the population is dependent on humanitarian aid.
The CAR was one of the first African countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, became active, providing security to Touadéra.
