Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra reelected, provisional results show

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra won a third term in last month's election, provisional results showed.

The major opposition coalition boycotted the vote after a referendum allowed the removal of term limits.

Touadéra, 68, faced challenges from six candidates, but the main opposition coalition did not participate after denouncing what it called an unequal political environment.

He won 76.15% of the votes, according to the provisional results the election authority released late Monday.

Some 2.4 million Central African Republic citizens were registered to vote in a first-of-its-kind election in the country, where citizens voted simultaneously for all tiers of government, including presidential, legislative, regional and municipal seats.

Two opposition candidates have already contested the results, citing instances of alleged malpractice by the National Elections Authority and widespread fraud. Anicet Georges Dologuélé, the runner-up who received 14.66% of the vote, proclaimed himself the winner of the election on Friday.

Analysts say Touadéra has consolidated power within state institutions.

The country has been embroiled in conflict since 2013 after mostly Muslim rebels seized power and forced then-President François Bozizé out of office. The conflict was de-escalated by a 2019 peace deal between the government and 14 armed groups. Six of the 14 groups later withdrew from the agreement.

The Central African Republic is one of the countries where Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, was first active in Africa. The group has been responsible for Touadéra's security, but tensions have grown between Touadéra and Russia after Moscow demanded that Wagner be replaced with the Russian government-run African Corps.

Security issues ranked high among voters’ concerns in the election, even though the crisis has dwindled. The United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSCA, which has been present in the country since 2014, is facing a drawdown due to financial constraints.

Ope Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria.

Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra, bottom center, speaks to the media after being declared the winner of the presidential election in Bangui, Central African Republic, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Fernand Koena)

People celebrate on a street after President Faustin Archange Touadéra was declared the winner of the presidential election in Bangui, Central African Republic, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Fernand Koena)

Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadéra, bottom center, speaks to the media after being declared the winner of the presidential election in Bangui, Central African Republic, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Fernand Koena)

Presidential candidate Faustin-Archange Touadéra casts his ballot in the presidential election in Bangui, Central African Republic, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Fernand Koena)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Victor Wembanyama played in Tuesday night's game between the San Antionio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies after missing two games with left knee soreness.

Wembanyama finished with a team-high 30 points in 21 minutes. He was 10 of 20 from the field, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds and a blocked shot.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said before the game that the 7-foot-4 center/forward would come off the bench and be under a minutes restriction. But, Johnson said the team and medical staff were comfortable with Wembanyama returning to action.

“He's been putting in a lot of work,” Johnson said, adding that all of the key people — the coaching and medical staff and Wembanyama “have seen enough to give it a go.”

Wembanyama, the top pick in the 2023 draft, has played in 22 games this season, starting 15. He leads the team in scoring and rebounds.

He had missed a dozen games earlier this season with left calf tightness.

As for how long before he returns to full playing time, that will be a matter of how Wembanyama responds and reacts. “Every single day that will be the indicators of what ‘next’ looks like,” the Spurs coach said.

While the center told Johnson he was ready to go, the team wants to be mindful of the long term. The goal is to make sure Wembanyama is healthy for longer stretches and not in jeopardy of just playing a game or two, he said.

“We will be extremely mindful of the situation as we have been and will continue to be,” Johnson said. "It's just going to be one of those living, breathing kind of situations that we're going to continue to juggle and balance until we don't.

“I would guess that won't be this season.”

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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) is fouled as he tries to score past Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and guard Darius Garland (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts after a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Antonio, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)