2025 Central African general election
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28 December 2025
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| Registered | 2,398,158[1] | ||||||||||||
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Presidential election | |||||||||||||
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 Central African Republic portal |
General elections are due to be held in the Central African Republic on 28 December 2025. Incumbent president Faustin-Archange Touadéra is eligible for reelection after presidential term limits were removed by a referendum in 2023, and is seeking his third term in office.
The ruling United Hearts Movement, led by Touadéra, have repressed the political opposition in the Central African Republic, attempting to use the powers of the state to prevent opposition candidates from contesting in the election.[2] Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about the conduct of the election.[2]
Background
[edit]President Faustin-Archange Touadéra was initially limited to two terms before being constitutionally ineligible to run again. However, he put forward revisions to the constitution and a referendum in 2023 to remove term limits and extend presidential terms from 5 to 7 years. Danièle Darlan, head of the Constitutional Court, ruled that the proposed referendum was illegal, but she was replaced by Touadéra.[3] Opposition parties boycotted the referendum and it was approved with 95% of the vote. The Wagner Group provided security and logistical support for the conduct of referendum.[4]
Opposition leaders, such as Dominique Yandocka, were imprisoned despite their immunity as members of parliament and opposition parties have been banned from holding rallies.[3]
570,000 voters were registered by MINUSCA.[5] By February 2025, 98% of the voter registration centres in CAR were open, although 58 were still closed due to violence, and voter list revisions were done in 11 of 20 prefectures.[6]
Electoral system
[edit]The President of the Central African Republic is elected by a two-round system for a seven-year term, renewable. The candidate who receives an absolute majority of the votes cast in the first ballot is elected. If no majority is secured, a runoff is held between the top two candidates to decide the winner.[7][8]
Elections are set to be held in December 2025.[3] In July 2025, officials announced that elections for local and municipal offices, which were due to be held in August 2025 after a nearly 40-year hiatus, were to instead be held concurrently with the presidential election.[9] On 7 August, the CAR's electoral commission announced that the election would be held on 28 December 2025.[10]
Candidates
[edit]On 14 November 2025, the Constitutional Court of the CAR approved seven and rejected three candidates for president. The candidates are:[11][12]
- Faustin-Archange Touadéra (United Hearts Movement), incumbent president.[13]
- Anicet-Georges Dologuélé (Union for Central African Renewal).[14]
- Henri-Marie Dondra (UNIR)
- Serge Gislan Djory (Independent)
- Aristide Brian Ribois (Independent)
- Eddy Simforian Kabarkuti (Independent)
- Marcelin Yalimende (Independent)
Conduct
[edit]Preparations for the election have faced scrutiny regarding institutional readiness and security. The National Authority of Elections has worked to finalise voter lists and logistics under difficult conditions, with support from international partners and domestic observer groups. The United Nations has called for reforms to strengthen the independence and capacity of electoral institutions, noting that the process is taking place amid fragile security and limited resources.[15]
Campaign
[edit]Campaigning began on 13 December 2025.[16]
Challenges and criticisms
[edit]Observers and opposition figures have raised concerns about the credibility of the upcoming elections. Reports highlight logistical delays, incomplete voter rolls, and the closure of registration centres in conflict-affected areas.[17] The 2023 constitutional referendum, which allowed President Touadéra to seek a third term, also drew criticism for being conducted in a restricted political environment. Security conditions and limited funding continue to pose challenges that could affect the transparency and inclusiveness of the December 2025 vote.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Naili, Latifa (2025-08-25). "Central African Republic: Official Publication of Final Electoral Roll". AL24 News. Retrieved 2025-10-09.
- ^ a b "Central African Republic: Concerns Over Crucial Election". Human Rights Watch. 2025-11-28.
- ^ a b c Siegle & Wahila 2025.
- ^ Valade 2023.
- ^ Signs of ‘Historic Progress’ towards Peace Emerge, Central African Republic’s Delegate Tells Security Council, Requesting Donor Support for 2025 Elections 2025.
- ^ Central African Republic faces ongoing challenges ahead of elections 2025.
- ^ SCDGSL (March 2015). "PROPOSITON DE CONSTITUTION DE LA REPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE" (PDF). sangonet.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Code électoral de 2019" (PDF). Droit-afrique. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "Forty years and counting: CAR once again postpones local elections". Africanews. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Central African Republic sets 28 December 2025 for pivotal general elections". Africanews. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ "Central African Republic leader cleared for third term in key vote followed closely by Russia". AP News. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Seven Candidates in the Presidential Race in the Central African Republic". afrocen.org. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
- ^ "Central African President Touadéra launches third-term bid". Africanews. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 3 October 2025.
- ^ "Dologuelé enters presidential race despite opposition calls for a boycott". Africanews. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Central African Republic: UN Expert calls for urgent institutional reform of electoral authority ahead of 2025 elections". OHCHR. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Campaigning starts in Central African Republic quadruple election". France 24. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
- ^ "Central African Republic's president eyes third term". DW. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ Law, Hannah Fang (2025-06-28). "UN rights expert urges reform of Central African Republic electoral authority ahead of 2025 elections". Jurist. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
Works cited
[edit]News
[edit]- Valade, Carol (9 August 2023). "Central African Republic's new constitution makes permanent Touadéra presidency possible". Le Monde. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024.
Web
[edit]- "Central African Republic faces ongoing challenges ahead of elections". United Nations. 20 February 2025. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025.
- "Signs of 'Historic Progress' towards Peace Emerge, Central African Republic's Delegate Tells Security Council, Requesting Donor Support for 2025 Elections". United Nations. 20 February 2025. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025.
- Siegle, Joseph; Wahila, Hany (13 January 2025). "Africa's 2025 Elections: A Test of Credibility to Uphold Democratic Norms". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 25 June 2025.
External links
[edit]- CAR opposition mulls strategy ahead of polls, Africa Intelligence, 27 February 2025 (requires free registration)
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