Mahamat Idriss Deby Expresses Confidence in Winning Chad's Presidential Election

Mahamat Idriss Deby, the interim President of Chad and a candidate in the upcoming presidential election on May 6, 2024, held a large campaign rally in the capital N'Djamena, where he expressed confidence in winning the election. "I know that on May 6, I will be the president of the Republic, God willing," Deby declared to his supporters.

The election will mark the end of a three-year transition period led by Deby following the sudden death of his father, former President Idriss Deby Itno, in 2021. Deby has been accused of pursuing the long-term retention of power through various means, including violent oppression, the composition of electoral institutions, and the approval of presidential candidates.

Opposition groups and civil society have criticized the election process, challenging the legitimacy of the polls and calling for a boycott. Despite these challenges, Deby and his prime minister, Succès Masra, are among the approved candidates, along with several other candidates from the southern region of the country.

Analyst Helga Dickow argues that the transition program was aimed at Mahamat Déby's long-term retention of power, highlighting incidents of violence against opposition voices, the appointment of Déby's loyalists to the electoral management bodies, the disqualification of prominent opposition candidates, and the regional distribution of the approved candidates, which could favor Déby's victory.

Why this matters: The upcoming presidential election in Chad is a critical juncture for the country's future, as it could mark the end of the transitional phase and the continuation of the Déby family's rule. The election's legitimacy and the prospects for democracy and political openness in Chad are being closely watched by the international community.

Despite the opposition's calls for a boycott, Deby's coalition, which includes more than 200 political parties and 1,000 NGOs, is expected to provide him with a strong base of support. Deby is expected to win the majority of votes from the northern region, where he is from, while the southern region's votes may be split among the other candidates. As Deby stated during his campaign rally, "I know that on May 6, I will be the president of the Republic, God willing."

Key Takeaways

• Mahamat Idriss Deby, Chad's interim president, confident of winning 2024 election.
• Deby accused of pursuing long-term power retention through oppression and electoral manipulation.
• Opposition groups challenge election's legitimacy, call for boycott, but Deby's coalition strong.
• Election seen as critical juncture for Chad's future, with potential continuation of Deby dynasty.
• Deby expects to win majority of votes from northern region, while southern votes split.