Today, Chad conducts its presidential election, an event that critics argue is merely a façade meant to perpetuate the Deby family’s longstanding rule.
The election is taking place in a context of alleged manipulation and violent repression, leading many to question its legitimacy.
Voters have the option to continue the Deby legacy or elect the current prime minister, Succes Masra, whom many label as a puppet in the absence of significant competition.
Mahamat Idriss Deby, the nation’s de facto leader and son of the former president, has vowed a swift victory, claiming he will secure a win in the first round of voting.
Masra has countered with promises of change, appealing to voters’ desires for a new direction: “For the first time, Chad will be yours, Chadians.”
The backdrop to this election is a series of violent and oppressive actions by the ruling military junta. International human rights organizations have declared the election neither free nor fair, pointing to the assassination of Deby’s main rival and the disqualification or intimidation of other potential candidates.
In 2021, following the death of his father, Mahamat Idriss Deby assumed power, promising a brief, 18-month transition to civilian rule. However, this period was subsequently extended, a move that sparked widespread protests met with lethal force.
According to reports, the security forces’ crackdown on these demonstrations resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Further undermining the election’s credibility, the International Crisis Group has highlighted procedural irregularities, such as the decision to publish only regional vote tallies and the exclusion of numerous candidates from the ballot in areas loyal to Deby.
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Despite the apparent lack of free electoral choice, over 8.2 million Chadians are registered to vote in one of the UN’s lowest-ranked countries on the development index.
The election has especially resonated with the youth, many of whom will be voting for the first time and are vocally demanding improvements to their living conditions.
Polls across the country opened early this morning and will close by late afternoon, with preliminary results expected on May 21. A potential second round of voting is scheduled for June 22 if today’s results are inconclusive.
