Presidential elections in Chad: Voting is about to end military rule

Chad is set to become the first of the African countries led by the current military junta to transition to democratic rule with presidential elections to be held on Monday.

It will end a three-year transition period imposed after the sudden death of long-serving leader Idriss Déby Itno while fighting the rebels.

But since his son and successor, General Mohamed Déby, is one of the favorites to win, there are some doubts about whether this will bring about change.

Prime Minister Sosis Masra is among his nine rivals and is seen as his biggest rival.

The start of voting witnessed delays, as polling stations opened an hour later than scheduled in some areas.

President Deby began this process by casting his vote in the capital, N’Djamena.

He said he was proud to fulfill his promise to respect the deadline for holding “elections that will signal a return to constitutional order.”

He added: “It is up to the Chadian people to vote massively and choose their president.”

Masra wore a blue dress, or a traditional dress, while casting his vote, according to Agence France-Presse.

“All those who have shown that they want massive change should go and vote in large numbers, peacefully,” he said after the vote.

Laokora Sa-Ndodjenang, 72, was not confident the election would bring about any change, but she went to vote.

“We do not have free and credible elections in Chad because we cannot imagine that the electoral law would prevent representatives of political parties from obtaining results. This is illogical. If there was a crisis tomorrow, I would not be surprised,” he told the BBC.

“My wish is for there to be free and transparent elections, so that the people’s voice matters. Ruling a country with weapons is not a natural thing.”

But Ibrahim Musa Yusuf was more optimistic.

He added, “The votes are being held under very good conditions because there was great sensitivity… The result will be that Chad will change.”

The Constitutional Council excluded ten politicians who had hoped to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Negi Korsami and Rakhiz Ahmed Saleh, due to “violations.” For example, Mr. Corsami was accused of forgery.

But some argued that the decision to ban some people was politically motivated.

Another potential dissident, Yaya Dilou, was killed by security forces in February, while allegedly leading an attack on the National Security Agency in the capital, N’Djamena.

Activists have called for a boycott of the elections, which they described as a ploy to give a tinge of democratic legitimacy to the Deby family.

Many remain in exile after a deadly crackdown on dissidents following protests in October 2022.

However, Chad’s election represents a milestone for West and Central African countries that have fallen under military rule since the start of the wave of coups in 2020.

It may serve as a model for military juntas seeking to maintain their political influence after coming to power for the first time illegally.

The oil-exporting country, with a population of nearly 18 million, has not witnessed a free and fair transition of power since its independence from France in 1960.

Idriss Déby overthrew Hissene Habré in 1990 and remained in office for the next three decades until his death on the battlefield in April 2021 at the age of 68.

His son, now 40, took power in what opponents described as a constitutional coup and initially pledged to remain as interim leader for only 18 months, a period that was later extended. He also said he would not run for president.

General Déby has tried to dispel fears that he is part of a ruling dynasty.

“If elected, I will serve my five-year term, and at the end of my term, it will be up to the people to judge me. As for the dynasty, our constitution is very clear – a candidate cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.”

Mr. Massra, also 40, was appointed Prime Minister by General Deby in January after reaching an agreement to repair political divisions caused by the October 2022 protests.

Some accused the economist of betraying the opposition, but he denied rumors of a secret post-election power-sharing agreement with General Déby.

He urged Chadians to vote for him to end six decades of “obscurity” and “darkness.”

People are in desperate need of change in Chad.

But when it comes to voting, there is a mixture of hope and despair.

Hopefully this vote, whoever wins, will usher in a new era of youthful leadership in the country, but despairingly as over the past three decades, life is becoming more difficult for many in the country.

The results are expected to be announced by May 21, but a second round could be held in June if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round.