Chad is conducting presidential elections today, Monday, aiming to transition from three years of military governance to a democratic system.
The elections are likely to strengthen the interim president’s hold on power.
General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who assumed power in 2021 following the suspension of the constitution and his installation as the head of the Transitional Military Council, is the frontrunner among ten candidates.
Déby took leadership at the age of 40 after his father, who had ruled continuously since 1990, died from injuries sustained on the frontline while visiting troops battling rebels in the north.
Chad, a country with a population of 19 million, has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1960.
Despite Déby’s assurances that his presidency is only a temporary measure until Chad transitions to a new democratic government, there are widespread doubts about the fairness of the elections among voters and observers alike, especially following the suppression of opposition demonstrations.
Located in the heart of Africa, Chad is the fifth-largest country on the continent by area and the fourth poorest globally.
It is an essential ally for the West in this volatile region, sharing borders with Sudan and the Darfur region, which suffered a horrific ethnic massacre two decades ago.
Observers are currently concerned that the ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has been raging for over a year, might escalate into another genocide in Darfur.
Over 600,000 people have fled from Sudan to eastern Chad, with more arriving daily.
Chad also borders Niger and Nigeria to the west and south, areas where armed Islamic groups are active while fighting with rebels from neighbouring Libya intensifies in the northern deserts.
Despite other military rulers in the region severing ties with France, Déby has maintained relations with Paris.
Last year, France redeployed its counter-terrorism forces from Niger to Chad.
The preliminary results of the elections are scheduled to be released on May 21.
