Trending 
President Faustin-Archange Touadera has been declared the winner of a third term in the Central African Republic, as per provisional results released by the National Electoral Authority.
Touadera obtained 76.15 per cent of the votes in last month’s election, according to the authority.
He was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, winning 53.16 per cent of the vote in the first round.
The election followed a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished presidential term limits and extended the mandate to seven years, enabling Touadera to seek a third term.
The 68-year-old former mathematics educator campaigned by highlighting what he termed improvements in security.
International observers, such as the African Union and MINUSCA, noted that polling day was predominantly peaceful, although insecurity persists in certain eastern regions.
However, the primary opposition alliance, the Republican Bloc for the Defence of the Constitution, chose to boycott the election, citing unfairness.
Several candidates who participated, including former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, claimed that authorities imposed campaign restrictions, including travel limitations to provincial regions.
The Constitutional Court has until January 20 to validate the results or address any challenges.
Although opposition members have claimed electoral fraud, there have not been any significant reports of unrest following the election thus far.
