The Central African Republic’s Constitutional Court has begun examining a controversial petition seeking to bar President Faustin-Archange Touadéra from running in the December 28, 2025 presidential election, adding new tensions to an already fragile political landscape. The petition was filed by the Observatory for Democratic Governance (ODG), a civil society watchdog, which argues that Touadéra does not meet constitutional requirements related to parental lineage and identity. ODG president Élysée Nguimalé claims the origin of the surname “Touadéra” suggests a child “abandoned by maternal uncles”a cultural term he says implies the father is unknown, making the president’s lineage “impossible to trace.” According to Nguimalé, this violates provisions in the Family Code and electoral eligibility criteria, which require clear parental origin for presidential candidates.
Legal experts note that the argument is highly unusual and unprecedented in the country’s electoral history. Court officials have not indicated whether the petition has merit or when a ruling might be delivered. The government quickly rejected the challenge. Territorial Administration Minister Bruno Yapandé dismissed the petition as an attempt to “sow confusion among the population” amid heightened political polarization. Touadéra is seeking a third term, made possible after the removal of presidential term limits in a controversial 2023 constitutional referendum widely criticized by the opposition and international observers.
The dispute unfolds as the government faces accusations of restricting political competition. Authorities have refused to issue a passport to opposition leader and former prime minister Anicet Georges Dologuélé, effectively preventing him from traveling and potentially rendering him stateless. His supporters say the move is an attempt to sideline key challengers ahead of the election. The December vote is set to take place amid worsening insecurity, with armed groups still controlling large swathes of the country. Touadéra continues to rely heavily on Russian military support, including Wagner-turned-Africa Corps forces, to maintain stability around major cities. The final list of presidential candidates has yet to be published.
