Chad’s parliamentary elections are underway, and it seems like the election is rigged. With opposition parties, including Succes Masra’s Transformateurs, choosing to boycott the elections, this is turning out to be less of a democratic process and more of a political play to tighten President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s already firm hold on power. This election, which is being tagged as a step toward consolidating Deby’s rule and cementing his transition to constitutional governance, reeks of an autocratic grab of power.
Deby, who came to power in 2021 after rebels killed his father, President Idriss Deby, on the battlefield, was controversially elected in May. Since then, his rule has been anything but smooth sailing. This election is the first parliamentary vote in over a decade in Chad, but the absence of significant opposition raises questions about its legitimacy. With parties like Succes Masra’s Transformateurs opting out, it seems everything has already been arranged in Deby’s favour.
Polling stations opened for military personnel and nomadic voters on Saturday, with the general public casting their ballots starting Sunday. Over eight million people are registered to vote, but it seems more like a formality than an actual exercise in democracy. Moussa Ali Hissein, a 27-year-old voter, voiced his frustration, hoping the elected officials would actually deliver on their promises, especially in terms of jobs. “I hope that these candidates will keep their promises to young people. I especially need a job,” Hissein said.
Meanwhile, Abel Moungar, 31, expressed relief that despite the opposition boycott, many Chadians still turned up to vote. “I was afraid that people would boycott the elections but thank God, they came to vote like me,” he said.
Chad has recently made headlines for ending its defense cooperation pact with France and threatening to withdraw from a regional security force. This move, combined with the presence of over 600,000 refugees from war-torn Sudan, highlights the country’s increasingly volatile political sector. The provisional results are expected by January 15, 2025, and the final tally by January 31, 2025.
