Election campaigning began on Saturday in the Central African Republic CAR, as voters prepare for an unprecedented quadruple ballot scheduled for December 28. Citizens will simultaneously elect a president along with national, regional and municipal lawmakers in the conflict-prone nation.
President Faustin-Archange Touadera, widely regarded as the frontrunner, is seeking a third term after overseeing constitutional changes that removed term limits. He is competing against six other candidates. Thousands of his supporters gathered at a 20,000-seat stadium in the capital, Bangui, where he addressed the crowd amid accusations from opponents that he intends to rule indefinitely in one of the world's poorest countries.
Touadera , who first came to power in 2016 during a brutal civil war, presented himself as a champion of young people and stressed that restoring stability remains unfinished business. "The fight for peace and security is not over," he told supporters, adding that further strengthening of the armed forces was essential to securing the country and safeguarding national unity.
