General elections were held in the Central African Republic on 28 December 2025. Incumbent president Faustin-Archange Touadéra was eligible for re-election after presidential term limits were removed by the 2023 Central African constitutional referendum, and was seeking his third term in office. The ruling United Hearts Movement, led by Touadéra, repressed the political opposition in the Central African Republic (CAR), attempting to use the powers of the state to prevent opposition candidates from contesting in the election.[2]
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 were banned from holding rallies.[5] 570,000 voters were registered by MINUSCA.[6] 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.[7]Human Rights Watch expressed concerns about the conduct of the election.[2]
Electoral system
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.[8][9] 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.[10] On 7 August, the CAR's electoral commission announced that the election would be held on 28 December 2025.[11] In the event of a runoff in the presidential race, a second round of voting will be held in February 2026, while a runoff for parliamentary seats will be held on 5 April 2026.[12]
Candidates
On 14 November 2025, the Constitutional Court of the CAR approved seven and rejected three candidates for president. The candidates were:[13][14]
Eddy Simforian Kabarkuti, an independent candidate.
Marcelin Yalimende, an independent candidate.
Conduct
Preparations for the election faced scrutiny regarding institutional readiness and security. The National Authority of Elections (ANE) worked to finalise voter lists and logistics under difficult conditions, with support from international partners and domestic observer groups. The United Nations 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.[17]
Campaign
Campaigning began on 13 December 2025.[18] Both Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra accused authorities of hindering their campaign activities through travel restrictions and preventing related events, which was denied by officials of the United Hearts Movement.[19]
Challenges and criticisms
Observers and opposition figures 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.[20] 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.[21] In October 2025, the CAR's main opposition bloc, the Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution, said it will boycott the election, citing an unequal political environment.[22]
Observers
More than 1,700 local and international observers were accredited to monitor the election.[23] The African Union observer mission, which sent monitors to three of the CAR's 20 prefectures, said that elections were held peacefully except in Haut-Mbomou, and complied with the legal framework in force, which it said was an improvement from the 2016 and 2020 elections.[24]
Results
Provisional results announced on 6 January by the ANE showed that Faustin-Archange Touadéra was re-elected for a third term with 76.15% of the vote.[25] Anicet-Georges Dologuélé came second, receiving 14.66% of the vote.[26] Former prime minister Henri-Marie Dondra came third, receiving 3.19% of the vote.[27] Turnout among registered voters was 52.42%.[28] Both Dologuélé and Dondra disputed the results, citing alleged malpractice by the ANE and widespread electoral fraud.[29] Dologuélé declared himself the winner of the presidential election.[26]
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