More than two weeks following Faustin Archange Touadéra’s inauguration, marking the start of the Seventh Republic, Martin Ziguélé, former Prime Minister and leader of the MLPC, has spoken out. His remarks come amidst a tense political backdrop, where friction between the current administration and the opposition remains prominent.
In an interview from Bangui, Ziguélé paints a concerning picture. He argues that after a decade under the current regime, Central Africans have not experienced improvements in their daily lives. He stresses 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 issues like lack of access to water and electricity, deteriorated transportation networks, and the proliferation of illegal roadblocks. The decline in agricultural sectors, he says, illustrates the country’s economic downturn. Key productions have plummeted — cotton farming, which once approached around 100,000 tons, now hovers around 2,000 tons — and historical productions such as coffee no longer have reliable statistics. In these circumstances, Ziguélé believes that recovery will require a broad political and economic overhaul.
dialogue: essential for recovery
In his view, discussion between political factions is non-negotiable. In a democracy, dialogue should be seen as a vital tool for resolving impasses. 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 in office, while acknowledging the existence of significant challenges to overcome. However, Martin Ziguélé argues that without broad and sincere consultation involving all active forces of the nation, it will be difficult to implement the reforms needed for recovery.
