Chad Elections: Military Protection Requested Amid Rising Political Tensions

Chad’s National Election Management Agency has requested military protection for election officials and candidates due to an increase in violence before the December 29 elections. Opposition supporters have been attacking rallies of the ruling MPS party, and major opposition groups have denounced the elections as manipulated. Concerns about electoral integrity are rising, highlighting the tense political environment in Chad.

Chad’s electoral body, the National Election Management Agency (ANGE), has requested military assistance to ensure the protection of election officials and candidates in light of increasing violence ahead of the upcoming elections scheduled for December 29. Reports indicate that opposition supporters have obstructed campaign rallies held by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party through physical confrontations in various cities. The political climate is tense; if the military does not intervene, there are fears that the situation could escalate into armed conflict.

Chadian officials maintain that these elections will conclude a three-year transitional period, following the death of President Idriss Deby in April 2021. Approximately 8.3 million citizens have registered to vote from a total population of 18 million, with nearly 180 political parties nominating around 1,300 candidates for parliamentary elections. Despite these numbers, a coalition of over 75 opposition entities has denounced the electoral process as a “masquerade,” asserting that President Mahamat Idriss Deby intends to manipulate the elections to secure his hold on power.

Tensions heightened this week with opposition groups allegedly attacking campaign caravans of the MPS in various locations. Leaders from these groups, such as Avocksouma Djona from the Party of Democrats, express grievances over the electoral process, citing the appointing authority of Deby over election management officials and the constitutional court as conflicts of interest. Deby, in a recent statement to state television, proclaimed that the upcoming elections would be credible and transparent, a claim met with skepticism by opposition leaders who fear electoral manipulation.

The political landscape in Chad has been fraught with challenges following the death of longtime President Idriss Deby Itno in 2021. His son, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, took over as transitional president, promising a return to civilian governance. However, tensions have emerged as opposition parties and civil society groups contend that under Deby’s administration, electoral integrity has been compromised, raising concerns over the legitimacy of the upcoming elections. In recent weeks, there has been a notable escalation in violence, with reports of opposition groups opposing the ruling party’s campaign efforts through confrontational tactics, thus amplifying the urgency for military protection.

The situation in Chad regarding the upcoming elections highlights significant political strife and the challenges of ensuring a fair electoral process. With claims of systematic manipulation by the ruling party and increasing violence against political opponents, the request for military protection signals the gravity of the current climate. Without intervention, there is a risk of further escalation into conflict, undermining the potential for a peaceful transition to democracy as promised by the transitional government.

Original Source: www.voanews.com