Chad's AL-Wassat Party Rejects Electoral Process, Alleges Constitutional Council Bias

Chad's opposition party, AL-Wassat, has accused the Constitutional Council of bias and rejected the electoral process for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for May 6, 2024. The election will mark the end of a three-year transition period led by Mahamat Déby following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in 2021.

The controversy stems from the new constitution adopted in a referendum in December 2023, which required the creation of two electoral institutions: the National Election Management Agency and the Constitutional Council. Mahamat Déby appointed members to these bodies who were loyal to his late father and have been members of the former ruling party for many years, raising concerns about their impartiality.

AL-Wassat has cited the composition of the electoral institutions as a primary reason for their rejection of the electoral process. The opposition party's concerns have cast doubt on the likelihood of a democratic result from the upcoming elections.

Why this matters: The allegations of bias in Chad's electoral institutions and the opposition's rejection of the electoral process raise serious questions about the fairness and legitimacy of the upcoming presidential election. The outcome of this election could have significant implications for the future of democracy and political stability in Chad.

The approved candidates for the election include Mahamat Déby, his prime minister Succès Masra, and several other candidates. The regional origins of the candidates suggest that Mahamat Déby is poised to win most of the votes from the northern region, while the southern region's votes would be split among the other candidates.

Despite challenges from the opposition coalition and civil society groups calling for a boycott, Mahamat Déby's candidacy is backed by a broad coalition called the Coalition for a United Chad, which consists of more than 200 political parties and 1,000 non-governmental organizations.

The election campaigns officially kicked off on April 14, 2024, with Mahamat Déby and Succès Masra leading large rallies in the capital N'Djamena. However, the opposition maintains that the transition period has been aimed at Mahamat Déby's long-term retention of power, pursued through violent oppression, intimidation, and the strategic composition of electoral institutions and approval of presidential candidates.

Key Takeaways

• Chad's opposition party AL-Wassat rejects upcoming 2024 presidential election process.
• New electoral institutions accused of bias towards Mahamat Déby, son of late president.
• Mahamat Déby's candidacy backed by coalition, but opposition alleges power retention.
• Election campaigns underway, but opposition calls for boycott over fairness concerns.
• Outcome of election could impact democracy and stability in Chad.