Central African Republic's top court confirms incumbent president Touadera's poll win

His main opponent Anicet George Dologuele, who had appealed the provisional results complaining of fraud, won 13.5 percent, it said, saying the appeal had been rejected.

Touadera had presented himself as the stability candidate in an impoverished country that has endured a succession of civil wars, coups and authoritarian governments since gaining independence from France in 1960.

He went into the election in pole position after a new constitution was adopted in 2023 allowing him to seek a third term.

Dologuele also finished second to Touadera in the 2016 and 2020 elections, both of which were marred by suspicions of fraud.

Since Touadera was first elected in the middle of a civil war, unrest has eased, though feuds between armed groups and the government persist in some regions.

The national election authority said turnout was just over 52 percent in the December 28 election, which also included legislative, regional and municipal ballots.

Dologuele, a former prime minister, remains on course to win a seat in parliament during a second round of voting in the legislative election. A date has not yet been announced.