Central African Republic prepares for critical elections amid persisting instability

The Central African Republic is preparing to hold a quadruple election in the coming weeks. Voters will be called to the polls on 28 December to elect their president and lawmakers, as well as local and municipal leaders.

The United Nations’ envoy for Central Africa told the UN Security Council on Thursday that the upcoming vote could mark a turning point for Bangui, as the country is trying to recover from decades of violence and instability.

"This is an opportunity to commend the remarkable recovery of the country, which is laying the foundations for peace consolidation among domestic actors and has undertaken measures to secure its borders, notably with Chad and Cameroon," said Abdou Abarry, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa and head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA).

The Central African Republic is still grappling with insecurity on the back of the civil war that erupted in 2012. The Security Council established a stabilisation mission (MINUSCA) in 2014 to help restore peace.

Armed groups are still regularly perpetrating attacks across the country. As of August 2025, almost 665,000 Central Africans are refugees abroad and over 440,000 are internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

Earlier this year, the UN said the upcoming elections “represent a crucial opportunity to strengthen democratic governance, promote reconciliation and consolidate stability.”

Related articles

Central African Republic: Distribution of voter cards underway ahead of election

CAR deploys armed forces and MINUSCA to secure elections

Central African Republic publishes voter lists ahead of December general elections

From the same country

CAR: Former hostages greeted by President Touadéra on return to Bangui

UN warns against premature exit of peacekeepers from Central African Republic

School feeding programme supports children and local farmers in CAR

01:21 Central African Republic: Distribution of voter cards underway ahead of election

01:14

CAR deploys armed forces and MINUSCA to secure elections

01:13 Central African Republic publishes voter lists ahead of December general elections

01:09

CAR: Former hostages greeted by President Touadéra on return to Bangui

01:15 UN warns against premature exit of peacekeepers from Central African Republic

01:41

School feeding programme supports children and local farmers in CAR

01:21 Central African Republic: Distribution of voter cards underway ahead of election

01:14

CAR deploys armed forces and MINUSCA to secure elections

01:13 Central African Republic publishes voter lists ahead of December general elections

01:09

CAR: Former hostages greeted by President Touadéra on return to Bangui

01:15 UN warns against premature exit of peacekeepers from Central African Republic

01:41

School feeding programme supports children and local farmers in CAR

NEWS 02:33 Deforestation threatens fish stocks and livelihoods in Central African Republic

NEWS

00:56

One person killed in deadly shooting in Paris suburbs

NEWS 00:50 UN agencies appeal for help to protect weakest nations from super El Niño

NEWS 02:00 'This war must end': UN and Swiss officials hold talks on Sudan conflict

NEWS

02:39

Is Macky Sall preparing for a political comeback in Senegal?

NEWS 00:59 United Nations condemns drone strikes on civilians and infrastructure in Sudan

01:30

Nigeria

Nigeria's Tinubu defends policies as he launches re-election bid

01:13

Gabon

Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

01:01 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport partially resumes flights after Houthi attacks