Chad’s First Parliamentary Elections In A Decade Amid Boycott By Opposition Parties Picture courtesy: Al Jazeera
(The Post News)- The first parliamentary elections are under way in Chad on Sunday after 13 years. Voters will choose a new parliament, provincial assemblies and local councils.
The elections are taking place amidst reoccurring Boko Haram attacks in the Lake Chad region, an ending military accord with former colonial master France and accusations of Chad interfering in a devastating Sudanese conflict.
Opposition parties have decided to boycott the elections after accusing the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) government of trying to legitimise a political dynasty. Opposition parties claim the results have been already decided in advance.
On Saturday, Succes Masra, leader of the opposition Transformers party, said: “The fabricated results are already in the computers.”
The allegations of fraudulent elections hinder the Chadian government’s attempt to establish a democratic Sahel country.
“It will be difficult to have a credible election without inclusivity,” said Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s country director in Nigeria. “That some are boycotting the election shows that there must be a review of the process and system to ensure that a level playing field is provided to accommodate all Chadians.”
The boycott urged by opposition parties is proving to be a success as the voter turnout in capital N’Djamena was low when polling stations opened on Sunday.
Election officials in the upmarket district where the president’s family and ruling dignitaries live attributed their voter lack of interest to the “cold weather”.
An opportunity presents itself for candidates who are aligned with President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who was brought to power by the military in 2021 as boycotted elections by opposition parties will likely consolidate President Deby’s power.
Issa Doubragne, spokesperson for the ruling Patriotic Movement for Salvation (MPS), said in a statement posted on the party’s official website: “We are fighting tooth and nail to get the majority. We elected Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno with 61% of the vote, and we must provide him with the resources he requires to carry out his plan,” said Issa Doubragne, spokesperson for the ruling Patriotic Movement for Salvation (MPS) in a statement posted on the party’s official website.
Despite the boycott, polling stations will remain open until 6:00pm and are being monitored by about 100 foreign election observers and representatives of political parties.
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