(AP) — The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Council on Monday confirmed President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s victory in last month’s election, granting him a third term and rejecting an appeal by the opposition alleging widespread fraud and other irregularities.
The body announced that President Touadéra secured 77.9% of the vote, a modest increase from the 76.15% reported in the provisional results earlier this month. His main challenger and runner-up, Anicet Georges Dologuélé, received 13.1%, down slightly from the 14.66% previously announced.
The council also dismissed an appeal to annul the election filed by Dologuélé due to a lack of supporting documents.
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 earlier this month proclaimed himself the winner of the election.
The opposition candidate’s party, the Union for Central African Renewal, said in a Facebook statement 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.
Touadéra, 68, faced challenges from six candidates, but the main opposition coalition did not participate after denouncing what it called an unequal political environment.
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.
Some 2.4 million Central African Republic citizens were registered to vote in the election, the first of its kind in the country, with where citizens voted simultaneously for all tiers of government, including presidential, legislative, regional and municipal seats.
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. Six of the 14 groups later withdrew from the agreement.
The Central African Republic is one of the countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, was first active in Africa. The group has been responsible for the president’s security, but tensions have grown between Touadéra and Russia after Moscow demanded that Wagner be replaced with the Russian government-run Africa Corps.
Touadéra’s inauguration is scheduled for March 30.
