President Faustin-Archange Touadera has won the third term he sought after a 2023 constitutional referendum scrapped term limits and extended presidential terms to seven years.

He was declared the election winner, with 76.15 percent of the vote in the first round, by the National Elections Authority (ANE). Opponents Anicet-Georges Dologuélé received 14.6 percent of the vote, and Henri-Marie Dondra 3.19 percent.

Analysts saw Touadera, first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020, as the frontrunner after campaigning on security and infrastructure development.

The opposition accused Touadera of clinging to power and alleged campaign obstruction in the provinces, claims denied by his camp, while an opposition coalition boycotted the vote. The African Union deployed a team of observers to monitor the election.

Touadera’s victory will likely further the interests of Russia, which has traded security assistance for access to resources including gold and diamonds.

Touadera has also signalled a renewed interest in Western partnerships, saying he would welcome any country willing to develop CAR’s lithium, uranium and gold reserves.