Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) exhibits low-range performance across all four categories of the Global State of Democracy framework, registering scores in the bottom 25 per cent of countries in each category. Over the last five years, it has experienced declines in multiple factors across the framework. Despite significant mineral wealth, the country suffers from widespread poverty and the economy is heavily dependent on aid. Agriculture is the largest sector. CAR’s economic development has been impeded by political instability, limited transportation infrastructure and persistent armed conflict that has displaced large parts of its population.
The area that is now CAR has been settled for at least 8,000 years and was part of several powerful kingdoms and sultanates before being colonized in the late nineteenth century by France, whose exploitative rule left it ill-prepared for independence in 1960. Since then, it has experienced prolonged periods of authoritarian rule, during which successive presidents have relied on patronage to govern and failed to construct a viable state, particularly outside of the capital, beyond which there remains little state presence. This state weakness has been compounded by long-term political instability, including multiple coups. The coups fuelled the proliferation of armed rebel groups, with which CAR’s army has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict, despite successive peace agreements. In recent years, Rwandan troops and Russian mercenaries have aided in counterinsurgency efforts, reflecting their growing influence in the country.
While the election of President Touadéra in 2016 raised hopes of reconstruction and democratisation, CAR’s democratic institutions remain weak. Elections have been hampered by insecurity, procedural irregularities, and disputed results, and dissident voices - including civil society activists, journalists and opposition politicians - face harassment and arrest. The judiciary has been constrained by limited resources, security threats and executive interference. Noteworthy, too, were the institutional changes brought about by the 2023 constitutional reforms, which removed the presidential term limit and expanded executive power over the judiciary.
Religious and ethnic identities have long been important in CAR, where the political elite have generally come from ethnic groups in the Christian south. Despite efforts to build social cohesion, trust between Christians and minority Muslims is low and Muslims, who make up nine per cent of CAR’s population, continue to be subject to societal discrimination and abuse, including arbitrary arrest and religious profiling. Politicization of these identities by political leaders and rebel groups has imbued them with an enduring political salience in the ongoing conflict, which has been marked by incidents of extreme sectarian violence.
Women, too, are marginalised. Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, they are politically underrepresented, enjoy few opportunities for civic engagement (including in peace processes) and experience comparatively higher unemployment. They are also more vulnerable to the impacts of the severe humanitarian crisis induced by the conflict. The LGBTQIA+ community suffers societal stigmatization and arbitrary detention and, while private same-sex conduct is legal, public displays of homosexual affection are criminalised.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch Rights and the Representation, especially in the lead up to the 2025 general election, with opposition parties, civil society and the media facing growing restrictions and repression. Also meriting attention is the implementation of the 2019 peace deal, which remains critical to the prospects of democratization in CAR and was boosted recently when two rebel groups rejoined the peace process.
Last updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
April 2025
Two armed groups re-join peace process that began in 2019
On 19 April, two of the armed groups that have opposed the central government since the election of Faustin-Archange Touadéra in 2021, signed an agreement to re-join the peace process that had been initiated in 2019. The two groups are Unité pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC, Union for Peace in the Central African Republic) and Retour, Réclamation et Réhabilitation (3R, Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation), both of which have predominantly Fulani supporters. The negotiations to re-enter the peace process were facilitated by Fulani traditional leaders (especially Issa Bi Amadou), with negotiations taking place in Chad. Other armed groups have rejected the agreement and continue their opposition to the central government.
Sources: Barrons, Jeune Afrique , News 24
February 2025
Civilian deaths surge amid escalating inter-communal violence
Civilian deaths surged in the Central African Republic (CAR) in February, amid escalating inter-communal violence in the west of the country, between Anti-balaka and Fulani pastoralists. The Anti-balaka is a coalition of militias drawn largely from Christian and animist communities which, since its formation in 2013, has been engaged in a violent struggle for power and resources in the country with predominantly Muslim communities, including ethnic Fulani. The violence in February was triggered by a deadly robbery, that took place in the Ouham-Pendé prefecture and was carried out by former members of a demobilised Anti-balaka militia, who stole a motorcycle, gold and some money. It led to reprisal and counterattacks coordinated by local militias and targeting civilians, with the vast majority of the victims reported to be Fulani. According to ACLED, a conflict data initiative, the violence resulted in at least 130 civilian fatalities, making it the deadliest month in the CAR since March 2022.
Sources: Corbeau News Centrafrique, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data
January 2025
Parliament passes law protecting human rights defenders
On 27 December, the Central African Republic’s (CAR) National Assembly passed a law protecting human rights defenders (HRDs), which it defines as, ‘individuals, journalists, activists, lawyers, organizations and institutions working to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms’. Among the law’s provisions are a series of HRD rights and state obligations, which are intended to enhance HRD security and facilitate their work. These include the right to receive financial and other support to achieve their human rights objectives, protections against searches and surveillance, and state obligations to prevent and protect HRDs against reprisals. Journalists and civil society activists in the country have been subjected to human rights abuses by both state security forces and armed rebel groups, and the passage of the law was welcomed as an important development in CAR’s democracy by UN expert, Yao Agbetse.
Sources: Loi portant promotion et protection des défenseurs des droits de l’Homme, United Nations, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch
July 2023
Referendum approves new constitution that extends presidential terms
A lengthy process to replace the constitution in the Central African Republic concluded with a referendum held on 30 July. The official results indicated that 95 per cent of those who voted supported ratification of the new constitution, with turnout reported as 57 per cent of registered voters. Opposition parties dismissed the referendum as a ‘farce.’ The most widely discussed changes in the new constitution concern presidential terms. Under the new constitution the length of the president’s term will be seven years (up from five) and there will be no limit on the number of terms a president may serve. Current President Faustin Archange Touadera had pushed for this new constitution, and is widely expected to make use of the new provisions on presidential terms to seek to extend his time in office.
Sources: AfricaNews, Radio France Internationale, Associated Press, British Broadcasting Corporation
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