Around 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 March 2021, the President of the Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic (CAR), Danielle Darlan, invited Faustin Archange Touadera to take the oath of office in Sango, then in French. To a standing ovation from the audience, he stood up and walked towards the lectern under the close supervision of the presidential guard and MINUSCA Rwandan peacekeepers, with representatives of the international community, including the President of the Republic of Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mankeur Ndiaye, looking on.

Standing upright, with his left hand resting on the Constitution and his right hand raised, Faustin Archange Touadera, CAR’s incoming leader – albeit for a second term – pledged that he would fulfil the duties of his office to the Central African nation.

Following these formalities, and as is customary, the new head of state received the attributes of sovereignty from the Grand Chancellor of National Orders, followed by the reception of the flag from the Chief of Staff of the Central African Armed Forces. It is from that moment that Faustin Archange Touadera began another five-year period in office as President of the Central African Republic.

“With this political mandate, you will exercise power in the name of the people and on their behalf [...] Great challenges lie ahead for this new mandate, perhaps even greater than those of your first term. Our Constitution proclaims that the Central African Republic is one and indivisible. Thus, the restoration of the territorial integrity of our country and the security of the population are a priority. This necessarily involves re-establishing the authority of the State in every corner of the Republic,” stated Constitutional Court President Danielle Darlan, following the swearing-in of the country’s leader.

“The fight against impunity will be the cornerstone of my five-year term,” declared Faustin Archange Touadera during his inauguration speech. “My wish is that at the end of this mandate, there will be no more armed groups active on the national territory and that the Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR) process will be completed,” he added.

The re-elected president was thereafter congratulated by those present at the ceremony.

Outside, at the entrance to the National Assembly, as in many public spaces in the capital, jubilant crowds gathered under the watchful eyes of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and the Internal Security Forces (FSI).

They national defence and security forces were joined by MINUSCA blue helmets in ensuring security and protecting the public – in line with the Mission’s implementation of the Integrated Plan for Securing the Elections (PISE), within the framework of its mandate as per UN Security Council 2552 (2020).