Chad is set to experience its first presidential election on Monday, three years after Mahamat Idriss Deby’s stunning ascent to power, following the death of his father, Idriss Deby, in a rebel skirmish. After several military takeovers, the Sahel region of Africa is at a turning point, and this election will be crucial. Given the current state of geopolitics and the region’s ongoing security issues, this election is very important.
It is generally expected that Mahamat Idriss Deby, who took over immediately following his father’s passing in April 2021, will win this election. In spite of this, his primary rival has been drawing surprisingly sizable numbers throughout the campaign, raising the possibility of a tough contest. Deby ran for office on a platform of improving
Despite the changing conditions in surrounding countries where military rulers have shifted towards Russia, Chad, a significant participant in the Sahel, has continued to preserve its connections with Western states, especially France. The United States is temporarily withdrawing its soldiers from the nation in connection with this election, but it has promised to review its security activities after the results.
Voting is set to take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with approximately 8.5 million Chadians registered. Soldiers began their voting a day earlier. Provisional results are expected by May 21, with final results due by June 5. A run-off will be organized for June 22 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.
Several candidates are running in the election, including Succes Masra, Deby’s former opponent and current prime minister, who came back into the race in 2022 after living in exile. Along with seven other candidates, former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacke is also running. Masra has been drawing sizable crowds during the heated campaign time, and Padacke has accused Masra of working with Deby.
Unfortunately, there has already been a lot of violence throughout the election time. The day of the election announcement, Deby’s clan member and opposition politician Yaya Dillo was assassinated in N’Djamena. His passing has raised questions about possible violence and vote-rigging, prompting calls for a boycott of the elections from civil society organizations and some members of the opposition.
Former minister and magistrate Baniara Yoyana stressed the election’s crucial significance for Chad, saying it symbolizes the country’s people’s desire for change as a whole. He emphasized that in order to reduce the likelihood of conflicts, the electoral process must be transparent.
Even in this sensitive environment, some of Deby’s supporters are hopeful. The 28-year-old student Abdelkhader Sougui stated that he hoped for a nonviolent election. He declared, “We want the election to run smoothly and peacefully.” “I hope to vote on May 6 in the morning to ensure our victory in the first round.”
