New government in Central Africa: continuity or a redistribution of power?

President Faustin Archange Touadera announced the formation of a new government, about two months after his inauguration for a third term. According to African media following the matter, this step reflects continuity in the structure of the executive branch rather than a fundamental transformation.

The new government includes 29 ministers, only 10 of whom are new, while the remaining members of the previous team retained their positions. The dominance of the presidential party, “Movement of United Hearts” (Mouvement Cœurs Unis), remains a prevailing feature of this composition.

Among the most prominent new faces is Evariste Ngamana, who took over the portfolio of Communication and Media. He previously served as a spokesperson for President Touadera during his recent election campaigns.

The retention of Prime Minister Felix Moloua raised widespread questions. He had submitted his resignation on May 13, but President Touadera reappointed him two days later, before the government was formed. This process was described by Africa Press, which focuses on African affairs, as an “institutional shift under the sign of continuity.”

Controversial Timing

The timing of the announcement is as significant as the government’s composition. It came at a time when final results for all seats in the second round of legislative elections had not yet been announced. Only 90 out of 140 seats in the Central African Republic’s parliament have been confirmed.

The legislative elections were held amid a widespread absence of the opposition, which chose to withdraw from participating in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. According to Jeune Afrique, this contributed to fragmenting its ranks and weakening its ability to influence the political landscape.

President Touadera won a third term with 76.15 percent of the vote in the presidential election, ahead of his main rivals Anicet Georges Dologuele, who received 14.66 percent, and Henri Marie Dondra, with 3.19 percent, according to the official results. He was inaugurated on March 30, making the government formation a natural institutional step in strengthening the executive branch.

Some opposition parties had rejected the legitimacy of this third term, protesting what they described as a violation of constitutional limits on term numbers. According to Jeune Afrique, this position complicated their engagement in the entire electoral process.