"Voters in the Central African Republic went to the polls on Sunday in a presidential and legislative election that could allow President Faustin-Archange Touadera to extend his rule beyond two terms, amid opposition boycotts. Footage shows residents queuing at polling stations to vote in elections for a president and federal lawmakers, as well as - for the first time in nearly 40 years - regional and municipal representatives. The vote is widely regarded as the most complex election in the country’s history. "First of all, I've just done my civic duty. I have to elect a president for my country, and the person who will be elected. What I expect from this person is, first and foremost, security, health and education, and above all, the development of our country," said a resident. Touadera, who made headlines by adopting Bitcoin as a legal tender in 2022, pushed through a referendum in 2023 to abolish the two-term limit and extend presidential mandates from five to seven years. Significant delays in confirming two major challengers have led some opposition groups to boycott the election, labelling it a 'sham.' Out of seven candidates, the most prominent opponents are ex-PM Anicet-Georges Dologuele and Henri-Marie Dondra. CAR holds local elections for the first time in nearly 40 years after a long period of political conflict, including a civil war between the Seleka rebel movement and Anti-balaka groups, displacing one million people. The polling stations are expected to close at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT). If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, the runoff will be scheduled for the top two finishers."