What’s at stake in Chad’s presidential election?
Al JazeeraMay 05
Chad Holds Presidential Elections After Years of Military Rule
Image copyright: Bagassi Koura (VOA) via Wikimedia Commons
The Facts
Chad held its first presidential elections in more than three decades on Monday, marking the first presidential vote in the African Sahel region following a wave of military coups.
According to Chad's National Election Management Agency, 8.2M people were registered to vote in the election, intended to end the three-year transitional military rule following the death of long-term leader Idriss Déby Itno in 2021.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
After his unconstitutional power grab in 2021, Déby junior is now trying to legitimize his rule through these rigged elections. Not only was a prominent opposition leader killed in the run-up to the election, but there are also voices within Déby's own ethnic group that oppose him. Adding to this is his plan to sever his alliances with the West and pivot towards Russia and the United Arab Emirates. That Déby is set to win the sham elections, does not bode well for Chad's future.
Establishment-critical narrative
The mostly peaceful elections are of great significance not only for Chad since it is the first Sahel country to hold elections following a string of regional coups. 221 political parties and associations backed the candidacy of Déby, who pledged to promote fair, just, and efficient governance. That his government called on the US to cease its activities nationwide while approaching Russia proves that Déby is the right candidate to lead his country to a better future.