Chad Holds Controversial Parliamentary Election Amid Opposition Boycott

Chadians went to the polls on Sunday in a parliamentary election that has been largely boycotted by opposition groups, a move that is expected to solidify President Mahamat Idriss Déby’s power and finalize the nation’s transition toward constitutional governance.

Déby, who assumed power in 2021 following the death of his father, President Idriss Déby, at the hands of rebels, was elected in a contentious vote in May. His rise to power as interim leader has been marked by controversy, but Sunday’s election is seen as a critical step toward consolidating his leadership.

Opposition leader Succes Masra’s Transformateurs party, along with several other political groups, chose to boycott both the parliamentary election and the concurrent municipal and regional elections, the first of their kind in over a decade.

Polling began on Saturday for nomadic communities and military personnel, with the general public casting their votes from 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) on Sunday. Over eight million Chadians were registered to vote, although participation was expected to be lower due to the opposition’s boycott. Provisional results are expected by January 15, 2025, with final results to be announced by January 31, 2025.

For many voters, the election represented both hope and skepticism. Moussa Ali Hissein, 27, shared his thoughts after casting his ballot: “This is the first time that I am voting for three candidates at the same time—for the legislative, provincial, and municipal elections. I hope these candidates will keep their promises to young people. I especially need a job.”

Abel Moungar, 31, also expressed optimism, saying, “I was afraid that people would boycott the elections, but thank God, they came to vote like me. I hope for an improved social and economic situation in Chad.”

Chad, a crucial Western ally in the fight against Islamic militants in the Sahel region, has recently taken steps to assert its independence on the international stage. Last month, it ended its defense cooperation pact with France and threatened to withdraw from a regional multinational security force. Additionally, the country is hosting over 600,000 refugees from neighboring Sudan, as reported by the United Nations in May.

Despite the boycott, the election marks a significant moment in Chad's political evolution, with many watching to see how the country navigates its path toward greater stability and constitutional governance.