• Faustin-Archange Touadera wins re-election with over 76% of the vote.
• Opposition candidates allege widespread fraud and boycott the election.
• Security and stability were key issues in the electoral campaign.
• The Constitutional Court will finalize the results by January 20.
• The Central African Republic has a history of conflict, influencing the election dynamics.

Faustin-Archange Touadera has been re-elected for a third term as the President of the Central African Republic, receiving over 76% of the vote in the December 28 election. The provisional results revealed that his closest rivals, Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra, garnered approximately 15% and 3%, respectively. Voter turnout was reported to be around 52% with over 2.4 million people registered to vote, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Africanews.

Touadera's campaign heavily emphasized his security record, which has been crucial given the Central African Republic's ongoing instability since a coup in 2013. His government has relied on support from Russian mercenaries and Rwandan forces to bolster security and peace efforts following a peace deal with various rebel groups in 2019. However, the main opposition coalition, known as BRDC, boycotted the election, expressing concerns about fairness and alleging manipulation of the electoral process, as confirmed by several sources including Reuters, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Africanews.

Following the announcement of provisional results, both Dologuele and Dondra publicly denounced the election, calling it fraudulent. Dologuele, the runner-up in 2020, asserted that there was "a methodical attempt to manipulate" the vote, while the Touadera administration firmly denied any allegations of electoral fraud. The Constitutional Court has until January 20 to rule on any disputes regarding the election outcomes, which will be pivotal for finalizing Touadera's victory, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

As the social and political landscape remains tense, ongoing complaints about the election could exacerbate unrest within the nation. Despite the instability, observers noted the election was conducted largely peacefully, although challenges with polling materials and voting processes were reported. Touadera's administration, which has consolidated power since his initial election, faces significant scrutiny as key regional players like Russia and Rwanda influence the political dynamics in the country, according to Africanews, BBC, and Al Jazeera.