Martin ziguélé critiques central african republic’s political landscape

More than two weeks following Faustin Archange Touadéra’s inauguration, marking the beginning of the Seventh Republic, Martin Ziguélé, former head of government and leader of the MLPC, has spoken out. His statement comes amid a tense political climate, with ongoing friction between the ruling power and the opposition.

In an interview from Bangui, Ziguélé paints a worrying picture. He argues that after a decade under the current regime, Central Africans are not seeing improvements in their daily lives. He emphasizes the urgent need for genuine dialogue between political leaders and civil society stakeholders to reverse this trend.

To support his argument, the opposition leader cites striking poverty statistics. According to a 2016 benchmark, over half the population lived below the poverty line (less than 1,000 CFA francs per day); by 2026, this figure is projected to reach approximately two-thirds of the population. This is compounded by structural problems such as lack of access to water and electricity, degraded transport networks, and the proliferation of illegal roadblocks. The decline in agricultural sectors illustrates the country’s economic regression, according to Ziguélé. Key productions have collapsed—cotton farming, which once approached some 100,000 tons, now hovers around 2,000 tons—and historical productions like coffee no longer have reliable statistics. In these conditions, Ziguélé believes that recovery will require a vast political and economic undertaking.

dialogue: essential for a fresh start

In his view, discussion between political camps is non-negotiable. In a democracy, dialogue should be seen as an essential tool for resolving blockages. He points out that the majority of the population lives in rural areas and directly suffers the consequences of isolation and the collapse of production chains. Following his inauguration on March 30, 2026, Faustin Touadéra presented a positive assessment of his two terms, while acknowledging the existence of significant challenges. However, for Martin Ziguélé, without broad and sincere consultation involving all vital forces of the nation, it will be difficult to implement the reforms necessary for recovery.