Central African Republic elections
CAR citizens voted in the much-delayed presidential elections that are hoped will bring stability after two years of violence Reuters/Stefano Rellandini

Former Central African Republic (CAR) prime minister Faustin-Archange Touadera has maintained a surprise lead with half of votes counted, the electoral authority said on 5 January.

The former French colony descended into chaos when the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted the government of then-president Francois Bozizé in March 2013. Following the coup, the mainly Christian Anti-balaka militia organised the fight against the Seleka and carried out large-scale reprisal attacks against Muslim civilians.

Many hope the election, which was rescheduled five times due to deadly intercommunal violence but was eventually held on 30 December 2015, could help bring stability after two years of strife.

Faustin-Archange Touadera ahead of polls

Touadera, a prime minister in Bozizé's government, received 166,934 votes while his closest rival, former prime minister Anicet-Georges Dologuele, has 166,663, according to results published at the authority's office in the capital, Bangui, at midday.

With 73,136 votes, Desire Kolingba, the son of a former president, is in third place in the bid to replace interim leader Catherine Samba-Panza.

Read more: 5 points to understand the violence in the Central African Republic

The new preliminary results come a day after almost 20 of 30 presidential candidates in the nation's election urged authorities to stop counting the votes, alleging fraud during a news conference.

More than 500 polling stations were secured by United Nations peacekeepers and national security forces. More than 1.8 million people were registered to vote across the diamond-producing nation.

The poll is likely to go to a run-off on 31 January.

Who is Faustin-Archange Touadera?

Faustin-Archange Touadera

Born in Bangui in 1957, Touadera studied in CAR, Ivory Coast, France and Cameroon, before working as a university maths lecturer in the capital.

In May 2004, he became vice-chancellor of the University of Bangui before being nominated as a rector of the university between 2005 and 2008 – the year he entered politics.

Ex-president Francois Bozizé appointed him as prime minister on 22 January 2008, after Elie Dote resigned following a civil service strike.

Touadera remained in that position until January 2013, when Bozizé was ousted by Seleka rebels.

Touadera stood as an independent candidate in the much-delayed December elections. Bozizé was barred from running after he announced his candidacy in August.