Chad’s journey towards democracy has reached a critical juncture with the commencement of general elections. While President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has touted the elections as a pivotal step in the transition, the process has been marred by controversy, with opposition parties denouncing the vote as a charade designed to consolidate the ruling party’s grip on power. This has led to a widespread boycott, raising concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process.
The elections, which encompass the selection of a national parliament, regional assemblies, and local councils, have been staggered, with members of the armed forces and nomadic tribes casting their ballots on Saturday, December 29, 2023, due to logistical considerations. The majority of the population, however, is scheduled to vote on Sunday. Despite the government’s portrayal of the elections as a democratic milestone, a palpable sense of apathy and disillusionment pervades the electorate. Many Chadians express skepticism about the prospect of meaningful change, anticipating a predictable victory for the ruling party regardless of the outcome. Their primary concerns revolve around pressing socioeconomic issues such as the soaring cost of living, rampant corruption, and pervasive nepotism.
The opposition’s call for a boycott has intensified the controversy surrounding the elections. Major opposition parties, including the Transformers party, have urged citizens to abstain from voting, labeling the process a sham. This boycott underscores the deep-seated distrust in the electoral system, with many believing it to be rigged in favor of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party. The lack of international observers and the perceived opacity of the vote-counting process further exacerbate these concerns, casting a long shadow over the credibility of the elections.
The political landscape in Chad is further complicated by a confluence of factors, including recurring attacks by the Boko Haram insurgent group in the Lake Chad region, the recent termination of a military accord with former colonial power France, and accusations of interference in the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan. These challenges underscore the fragility of the situation and raise questions about the government’s ability to conduct free and fair elections amidst such instability.
President Deby, who assumed power in 2021 following the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, a long-time autocratic ruler, has presented these elections as a crucial step towards democratic governance. However, analysts view the elections with caution, acknowledging the significance of concluding the three-year transition period while simultaneously highlighting the inherent flaws and biases in the process. The perception that the electoral management body is dominated by individuals loyal to the ruling party raises serious concerns about the impartiality of the electoral system.
The opposition’s boycott serves as a stark indicator of the widespread skepticism surrounding the elections. It reflects a pervasive belief that the process is neither free nor fair, undermining confidence in Chad’s democratic trajectory. The combination of the boycott, the lack of international oversight, and the perceived bias within the electoral system casts doubt on the legitimacy of the results and raises questions about the future of democracy in Chad. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds, with the hope that the outcome will not further exacerbate the existing tensions and instability in the country. The true test of the elections will lie not just in the vote count but in the subsequent actions of the government and its responsiveness to the concerns raised by the opposition and the citizenry.
