Voting begins in Central African Republic general elections

Voting for the presidential, legislative, regional and municipal elections began early on Sunday in the Central African Republic, with polling starting nationwide at 6:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and set to end at 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT).

About 2.3 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots, Mathias Barthelemy Morouba, president of the National Elections Authority, said in a statement published on the agency's Facebook page on the eve of the elections.

"This is the first time our country has organized elections of such complexity, which have posed numerous challenges that required appropriate responses, with the hope that months of preparation will culminate in the successful and smooth conduct of the polls," Morouba said.

He also reiterated that "any attempt at electoral fraud, manipulation, or violence is not only contrary to the democratic spirit, but also punishable by law."

Seven candidates are competing for the presidency, including incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera, who has been in power since 2016 and is seeking a third term. His main opponents are Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, both former prime ministers.

The provisional result for the presidential election is expected to be announced on January 5, 2026. If no candidate secures an absolute majority, a runoff between the top two candidates will be scheduled.

(With input from Xinhua)