Central African Republic President Secures Historic Third Term After Landslide Victory

A Referendum That Rewrote the Rules

Bangui, Central African Republic — When dawn broke over the Oubangui River on Monday, the capital was already humming. Vendors unfurled newspapers blaring one headline: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra had captured a staggering 94 % of the vote, sealing a third term and redefining the nation’s political horizon.

From Professor to President-for-the-Future

Touadéra, 66, once a soft-spoken mathematics professor, cast his ballot last week wearing the same quiet smile that carried him to power in 2016. Back then, he promised to tame a country bleeding from civil war and militia violence. On Sunday night, flanked by dancers and drums in the sprawling PK5 district, he thanked voters for “trusting the captain who knows these waters.”

The Referendum That Cleared the Path

July’s constitutional referendum removed a two-term ceiling, arguing stability trumps rotation. Opposition leaders cried foul, noting turnout barely scraped 54 %. Yet in rural prefectures—where radio beats social media and state presence is a distant flag—support ran deep.

“We need continuity, not another restart,” said Brigitte Yaliki, a peanut farmer outside Bambari. “When the road finally came, it was Touadéra who brought it.”

Ballots, Boycotts and Bulletproof Vests

The campaign unfolded under a U.N. peacekeeper’s shadow; armoured vehicles idled near polling stations while helicopters traced loops above. Key opponents either endorsed boycotts or stood legally barred, leaving the president’s United Hearts party with an open field. International observers noted “systemic advantages,” yet stopped short of calling the vote illegitimate.

What a Third Mandate Means on the Ground

Expectations are sky-high. The government’s to-do list is blunt:

• Rebuild 1,200 km of laterite roads washed away each rainy season
• Disarm 14,000 ex-fighters under a shaky 2019 peace accord
• Negotiate new mining contracts as Russian, French and Chinese firms circle

Failure could reignite militia grievances; success might entrench Touadéra’s narrative that only he can steady the state.

Geopolitical Ripples Beyond the Savannah

Western diplomats privately worry about long-term entrenchment, while Moscow—whose paramilitary advisers guard key mines—has signalled approval. The African Union urged “inclusive governance,” a coded caution against one-man dominance.

The Night the City Sang

By 9 p.m. Sunday, car horns replaced gunshots as the soundtrack of Bangui. On Avenue de l’Indépendance, spontaneous street parties spilled into candle-lit churches, where worshippers prayed the next five years bring electricity to darkened neighbourhoods and not just another political dynasty.