"Central African Republic's President Faustin-Archange Touadera closed his election campaign with a major rally at Bangui's Barthelemy Boganda Stadium on Friday, just two days before the nation heads to the polls. Footage captures the 20,000-seat stadium overflowing with supporters. The high-energy rally featured a mix of live speeches, a marching band and choreographed performances. Touadera projected confidence ahead of the vote, stating: "The Central Africans are mature and want their country to remain stable and peaceful. [...] The enthusiasm is clear. So I think, and I am convinced, that my compatriots will vote for me on the 28th in the first round." The first round of the Central African Republic's presidential election is scheduled for Sunday, December 28. Voters will be choosing not only a president and members of parliament but also municipal representatives, marking the first local elections in decades. President Touadera, in power since 2016, is seeking to extend his rule following a 2023 constitutional referendum that abolished presidential term limits - a change that sparked public protests. Meanwhile, The Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People (MLPC) announced on Thursday that the bloc would not be participating in the elections, citing the alleged blocking of opposition campaign activities. Human Rights Watch recently warned that barriers to participation, rising xenophobia and weakened electoral oversight could 'undermine the credibility of the vote'."