Constitutional court validates Touadéra's election win
Faustin-Archange Touadéra's re-election with 77.9% of votes is confirmed by the constitutional court on January 19, 2026.
The Central African Republic's constitutional court validated Faustin-Archange Touadéra's re-election with 77.9% of the vote on January 19, 2026. This decision entrenches a presidential dictatorship in one of the world's poorest nations. The opposition boycotted the December 28, 2025, election, citing a lack of guarantees for a fair vote.
The National Election Authority announced Touadéra won with 76.15% on January 6, but opposition candidates Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra contested the results, alleging manipulation of voter lists and ballot boxes. The court, presided over by Touadéra's uncle, adjusted the final score to 77.9% and dismissed appeals, leading the opposition to accuse the court of acting as a presidential tool.
A 2023 constitutional reform extended presidential terms from five to seven years and removed term limits, allowing Touadéra's third mandate until 2032. Russian Wagner mercenaries continue to operate, with reports of secret prisons in Bangui. Sporadic attacks by militias persist in the Haut-Mbomou and Mbomou regions.
Why it mattersThe constitutional court's validation of Faustin-Archange Touadéra's re-election and a 2023 reform extending presidential terms consolidate his power until 2032.