Editorial...

Has the Central African Republic become a tyranny? I have been asking myself this question lately, based on several observations: a disturbing climate of arbitrary rule prevails—take, for instance, Dologuélé having his passport confiscated without cause, or people being thrown in jail simply for displeasing those in power. For those already imprisoned, there is no regard for legal time limits on police custody, and even very young children are locked up. Then there is Touadéra making decisions without consulting the people (such as the arrival of the Russians or the return of deportees from the USA); a government formed based on loyalty to one man rather than competence; and the 2023 constitutional change designed to extend his rule indefinitely—despite his having sworn allegiance to the 2016 constitution. Add to this favoritism based on ethnicity, and the list goes on. All of this makes me wonder if things weren't actually better under the dictator Bokassa; at least back then, there was no pretense of upholding the rule of law. We find ourselves in a country with no future, living off a fading legacy, where even the humblest pencil is paid for by "foreign partners"—partners whom we do not hesitate to criticize in the name of misplaced nationalism. And what of the people in all this? They are exploited at will, treated however the powers-that-be see fit; with an illiteracy rate of 98%, they are easy prey. Let us not forget the country's unfortunate neighborhood: dictatorships in Cameroon and both Congos, and a state of collapse in Sudan. There are no good examples to follow—or, to borrow a phrase from Peyrefitte, the Central African Republic got off on the wrong foot. Not to mention the fact that, in the presidential election where Dologuélé actually won the vote, it was Touadéra who emerged victorious thanks to the will of his uncle—whom he had appointed President of the Constitutional Court (so much for independence). Thanks to the "boss" for proofreading and correcting typos.

By Aline M'PANGBA-YAMARA | LNC Director of LAMINE MÉDIA Editor-in-Chief of LNC

Date: July 16, 2026

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