Presidential Elections Held in Guinea and CAR

Voters in Guinea and the Central African Republic cast ballots on Sunday in presidential elections that could extend the mandates of their current leaders, both of whom rose to power amid periods of political turmoil. The polls, held alongside legislative and local votes in both nations, drew about 2.4 million registered voters in the Central African Republic and 6.8 million in Guinea, according to election authorities.

In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra sought a third term following a 2023 constitutional referendum that eliminated presidential term limits and extended terms from five to seven years. The 68-year-old incumbent, first elected in 2016 during the height of a civil war that erupted in 2013, faces six challengers, including former prime ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra. Authorities expect Touadéra to secure a first-round victory, though a runoff would occur if no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote. Provisional results are due by early January.

The election unfolded without major disruptions in the capital, Bangui, where security forces, including members of the United Nations peacekeeping mission...