From mathematics professor to a president defying term limits

Society · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s path to power is a study in institutional navigation. A mathematician by training, he transitioned from academia to the premiership before securing the presidency. Now, his rule is defined by a complex web of Russian military backing, constitutional maneuvers, and a curious foray into the world of meme coins.

Touadéra’s political career began in the halls of academia. After earning two doctorates in mathematics—one from Lille University of Science and Technology in 1986 and another from the University of Yaoundé in 2004—he served as an assistant lecturer and eventually became the rector of the University of Bangui. His academic influence extended to the creation of the Euclid Consortium, an intergovernmental university initiative he helped establish as prime minister in 2010.

His transition to executive power was marked by strategic appointments. He served as prime minister under François Bozizé starting in 2008, a role he held until 2013. After winning the 2015–16 presidency with 62% of the vote, his tenure became characterized by a shift in security dynamics. Following the withdrawal of 2,500 French troops in 2016, Touadéra turned to the Russian Wagner Group for security and election financing, a move he defended by claiming Russia helped save his democracy from civil war.

To maintain power, Touadéra orchestrated significant constitutional changes. In 2023, he pushed through a referendum to abolish term limits and extend presidential terms to seven years. This followed the 2022 sacking of the head of the constitutional court, who had previously ruled such a referendum unconstitutional. His recent 2025 re-election, won with approximately 76% of the vote amid allegations of fraud and low turnout, solidified his grip on the state despite fierce opposition from rivals like Anicet-Georges Dologuélé.

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