Central African Republic: President Touadéra Unveils Vision for Prosperity at Chatham House

In a compelling address at London’s Chatham House on 17 September 2025, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR) outlined an ambitious roadmap for his nation’s future. Speaking to an audience of policymakers, investors, and international experts, President Touadéra emphasised CAR’s untapped economic potential while acknowledging the deep scars of its turbulent past. For investors willing to engage in frontier markets, his presentation marked a country poised for transformation after recent peace accords, macroeconomic stabilisation, and a growing drive for capital investment.

Touadéra portrayed the Central African Republic as a resource-rich frontier economy on the cusp of renewal. With 15 million hectares of arable land only 1% of which is currently cultivated the country’s agricultural sector employs around 70% of the population. Forests covering 23 million hectares, including a significant share of the Congo Basin, present opportunities in sustainable timber, carbon capture, and biodiversity conservation. Mining featured prominently in his remarks: in addition to traditional resources such as diamonds and gold, the president spotlighted critical minerals including lithium, graphite, copper, iron and rare earths. He also highlighted CAR’s untapped hydroelectric potential, which exceeds 2,000 megawatts.

Since assuming office in 2016, Touadéra has made national unity and economic revival central themes of his administration. “We wish to definitively turn the page on the dark chapters of our history,” he declared, reaffirming CAR’s commitment to the rule of law, democratic consolidation, and market openness. A recent investment forum in Morocco secured $9 billion in pledges across energy, infrastructure, mining, and agribusiness—an encouraging sign of CAR’s improving investment climate Morocco World News . The president also underscored the importance of upcoming December elections as a milestone for stability, transparency, and investor confidence.

During the Q&A session, attendees raised questions on regional dynamics, the environmental safeguards of the new mining code, and long-term security arrangements. Touadéra reiterated CAR’s commitment to peace and dialogue, calling his country an “island of stability” and pledging continued collaboration with regional and international partners. Maybe the most important point Touadéra made was when answering a question about the legitimacy of the upcoming Presidential election in December. He said he has given up the power for a President to appoint local leadership, these will now be elected officials this is a very positive step in improving national and local governance and a clear sign of the direction Touadéra wants to take the country in if he wins the election.

Economic Potential: A Resource-Rich Frontier

Independent analysis places CAR among the continent’s most promising yet underdeveloped economies. With a nominal GDP of $2.93 billion in 2025 and a PPP-adjusted figure of $7.33 billion, the country ranks near the bottom globally in per capita terms. Yet growth projections remain encouraging: the World Bank forecasts 2.1% GDP expansion in 2025, building on a 5.1% rebound in 2024, largely driven by resource extraction and stabilisation measures (World Bank Overview). With inflation at just 1.5% and a stable currency environment, CAR offers an increasingly attractive macroeconomic profile (IMF Country Page).

CAR’s mineral endowment is extensive. Long associated with diamonds and gold, the country is now gaining recognition for its deposits of uranium, lithium, graphite, and rare earth elements vital materials for clean technologies and global decarbonisation efforts. A turning point came in November 2024, when the Kimberley Process lifted its 11-year embargo on CAR’s diamond exports, imposed in 2013 amid conflict concerns. This development, announced during the KP plenary in Dubai, reopens global markets and could significantly boost government revenue while promoting formalisation and traceability in artisanal mining (IPIS Analysis; JCK Article).

Agriculture offers similarly high-potential upside. The country’s fertile soils and favourable climate support a variety of crops, including cotton, coffee, and cassava. With investment, agribusiness could flourish. Timber and biodiversity reserves strengthen export and eco-tourism prospects.

The energy sector is also gaining momentum. CAR’s vast hydroelectric resources could feed regional power grids and support Africa’s broader transition to low-carbon development. A billion-dollar investment programme covering renewables, off-grid systems, and energy-efficient manufacturing is under way. Incentives in the revised investment code have been tailored to attract private and institutional capital.

Touadéra acknowledged infrastructure as a major constraint, citing roads, hospitals, and motorways as priority gaps limiting national integration and economic flow. While fibre optic infrastructure has seen incremental expansion, digital connectivity remains patchy. However, satellite-based internet solutions such as SpaceX’s Starlink now offer high-speed connectivity to remote areas (Starlink Coverage Map). Strategic partnerships, such as Airtel Africa’s agreement with SpaceX, aim to accelerate deployment across the continent (Space in Africa Report; Satellite Today Article).

CAR’s landlocked geography and absence of rail infrastructure further constrain trade and competitiveness. Bulk exports such as minerals, timber, and agricultural goods rely on inefficient road corridors to coastal ports in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. A lack of reliable rail systems inflates transport costs by 40–70%, impeding regional integration and discouraging investment in heavy industry (UNCTAD Report). Addressing this through regional rail initiatives could unlock CAR’s transit potential, positioning it as a future logistics hub in Central Africa.

Navigating the Risks: Instability and Governance Challenges

Any credible assessment of CAR must account for risk. The legacy of civil conflict, political volatility, and weak institutions continues to shape investor sentiment. Despite stabilisation progress, Wagner (now rebranded rather ironically as the Africa Corp) are still present all be with reduced influence and at present there is a security dependency on Rwandan forces so building national security capacity is critical and is at a very early stage, the country still ranks low on ease-of-doing-business indices. Infrastructure challenges, particularly in energy and transportation, inflate costs. And with 74% of the population living in poverty, the domestic consumer base remains limited (World Bank Overview).

Security remains paramount. Armed groups continue to control parts of the country, disrupting trade routes and threatening extractive operations. Environmental concerns also loom, especially in informal mining and logging. With the lifting of the diamond embargo, continued vigilance on compliance and traceability will be critical to avoiding reputational risk. CAR’s peg to the CFA franc provides currency stability but also exposes it to broader regional pressures, with the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) projected to grow just 2.9% over the medium term (CEMAC Spring Report).

Nevertheless, recent macroeconomic trends suggest improvement. The IMF expects CAR to grow at 2.9% in 2025, supported by agriculture, mining, and peace dividends (IMF Country Review). Incentives such as tax holidays and streamlined permitting processes offer compensating factors. The resumption of diamond exports is particularly important, as it signals CAR’s re-entry into ethical supply chains and global markets.

Building on Peace: From Ceasefire to Sustainable Growth

Recent diplomatic and security advances have created a window for long-term reform. On 19 April 2025, the government signed a peace accord in N’Djamena with major armed factions (AU Press Release). This led to the dissolution of the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) and Return, Claim, Rehabilitation (3R) movements in July—a significant milestone in disarmament and reintegration (RFI Coverage). The African Union welcomed these developments as a path toward durable peace (ADF Report).

The Touadéra administration is using this momentum to expand disarmament programmes, integrate former fighters into the economy, and strengthen state presence in rural areas. The UN Security Council has extended its sanctions framework, supporting state-building and governance reforms. Meanwhile, inclusive elections scheduled for December are viewed as critical for institutional legitimacy and future aid flows.

These efforts resonate with wider continental trends. As noted in a recent CFI.co feature, Africa is entering an “age of optimism,” driven by AfCFTA and deeper regional cooperation (CFI.co Analysis). CAR, with its mineral base and agricultural capacity, is well-positioned to benefit provided peace endures and governance continues to improve.

A Call to Investors: Seizing the Moment

President Touadéra’s speech was not merely symbolic it was a call to action. For investors seeking high-growth opportunities, the Central African Republic offers long-term rewards in return for calculated risk. The reopening of the diamond trade, coupled with new infrastructure initiatives and peace-building efforts, creates a foundation for transformation. Satellite connectivity and energy investment provide vehicles for rapid modernisation.

The road ahead will not be easy, and prudent investors should seek to mitigate risks through multilateral partnerships and thorough due diligence. But the trajectory is increasingly positive. As Africa embraces integration, digitisation, and sustainable growth, CAR may yet shed its image as a conflict-ridden periphery and emerge as a symbol of post-crisis prosperity.

To build on and maintain the current improvements in stability CAR’s citizens will need to believe their lives will improve. For investors looking to make a real world impact and prepared to accept high risk for high potential returns now is the time to build on the  $9 billion vote of confidence Touadéra and his team secured in Morocco.