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 all four categories. Compared to 2018, it has experienced significant declines with respect to Representation and the Rule of Law. Despite significant mineral wealth (especially diamonds), 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.
CAR was colonized in the late nineteenth century by France, whose exploitative rule left the country largely without infrastructure and ill-prepared for independence in 1960. Since then, it has experienced prolonged periods of authoritarian rule, during which successive presidents relied on patronage to govern and neglected to construct a viable state, particularly outside of the capital Bangui, beyond which there remains little state presence. This state weakness has been compounded by long-term political instability, in part a consequence of several cycles of military interventions that have entrenched a culture of coups (it has experienced five coups and seven attempted coups). The coups have in turn fuelled the proliferation of armed rebel groups, with which CAR’s army has been engaged in a decade’s long armed conflict. In recent years, the army has been aided in its counterinsurgency efforts by Rwandan troops and Russian mercenaries, whose governments have become increasingly influential in the country.
Several peace agreements have failed to bring an end to the fighting and while the election of President Faustin-Archange Touadéra in 2016 raised hopes of reconstruction and democratisation, CAR’s democratic institutions remain weak. Recent elections have been hampered by insecurity, procedural irregularities, and disputed results, while civil society activists, journalists and opposition politicians face arrest and harassment. The performance of courts has been constrained by limited resources, security threats and executive interference. Noteworthy too were the institutional changes brought about by Touadéra’s 2023 constitutional reforms, which removed the presidential term limit, granted the government the power to appoint the majority of judges on the Constitutional Council and removed parliament’s control over mining contracts.
Religious and ethnic identities have long been important in CAR, where the political elite have generally come from ethnic groups in the Christian south and Muslims in the north have suffered exclusion and discrimination. Politicization of these identities by political leaders and rebel groups has imbued them with an enduring political salience, but this has been heightened by the ongoing conflict, which has been marked by extreme sectarian violence. Despite efforts to build social cohesion, trust between Christians and Muslims is low and Muslims, who make up nine per cent of CAR’s population, continue to be subject to societal discrimination and abuse by state security forces, including arbitrary arrest and religious profiling.
Women too are marginalised, with very limited political representation, few opportunities for civic engagement (including in peace processes) and a comparatively higher unemployment rate. They are also more vulnerable to the impacts of the severe humanitarian crisis that the conflict has engendered.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch Rights and the Representation in connection to the growing restrictions placed on opposition parties, civil society and the media (particularly in the lead up to the 2025 general election). The Rule of Law should also be monitored, both for progress in the ongoing prosecution of atrocity crimes in the country’s hybrid Special Criminal Court but also the independence of the Constitutional Council, following the 2023 constitutional reforms.
Last updated: July 2024
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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