C.Africa candidates hold final campaigning before presidential vote

Candidates in this weekend's the presidential election in Central African Republic held final campaigning Friday, including the outgoing president, Faustin Archange Touadera.

Touadera, who is seeking a third term in office is considered the front-runner for Sunday's vote, when people will also be turning out for legislative, regional and local elections.

Several opposition leaders have called for the vote to be boycotted, dismissing the process as a sham. They say the changed the constitution in 2023 so that he could rule for life.

In the capital Bangui, thousands of Touadera's supporters dressed in the colours of his United Hearts Movement (MCU) filled the stadium -- which has a capacity of 20,000 -- waving banners and flags.

"I assure you that if you vote for me, you will have peace," Touadera told supporters.

Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group are helping the army maintain security against rebel groups.

Anicet-Georges Dologuele, the candidate considered Touadera's main threat, chose to go out and about on the final day of campaigning.

Candidate Anicet Georges Dologuele is considered the main obstacle to Touadera's re-election bid. By Annela NIAMOLO (AFP)

His seven-vehicle convoy -- escorted by military vehicles -- travelled to Mbaiki, 100 kilometres (60 miles) southeast of Bangui, the political stronghold of his ally Jean-Serge Bokassa, son of the former emperor Bokassa.

The local prefecture voted for him back in 2020.

Dologuele, who was denied access to flights around the country for his campaign, said that at least Mbaiki was an easy day's drive from the capital.

He said he had not tried to hire halls for rallies in Bangui, which he said had been requisitioned by teams from the ruling party.

"Touadera thinks the country belongs to him," he said with a smile. "We'll see in two days."

Another presidential contender, Henri-Marie Dondra, had arranged no rallies.

Instead, he crisscrossed several districts of Bangui to meet local people and close out what he said had been "an intense week" of campaigning, which he said had gone well.

He too had been unable to book flights to campaign across the country.