Provisional results released Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by the National Electoral Authority show President Faustin-Archange Touadera securing a third term with 76.15% of the vote in last month’s elections. First elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020 with 53.16% in the first round, Touadera was able to run again following the 2023 constitutional referendum that removed term limits and extended presidential terms to seven years.
The 68-year-old former mathematics professor credited security improvements to alliances with Russian security contractors, restructured from the Wagner Group, and Rwandan troops, which helped recapture rebel-held territories and implement recent peace deals. These partnerships have increased Russian influence over the country’s mineral wealth, including gold, diamonds, lithium, and uranium.
International observers from the African Union and the UN Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) described voting as largely peaceful, despite insecurity in eastern regions. However, the main opposition coalition, the Republican Bloc for the Defense of the Constitution (BRDC), boycotted the poll citing unfair conditions, while participating candidates, including former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, alleged campaign restrictions.
The Constitutional Court has until January 20, 2026, to validate the results or address any legal challenges. While Touadera’s victory consolidates his rule, concerns remain over democratic erosion and foreign influence amid fragile peace.