Elections Amid Boycotts, Boycotts Amid Doubt

Chad, a nation in the heart of the Sahel, is holding its first parliamentary elections in over a decade, marking an uneasy step on its proclaimed path to democracy. Officially, this marks the end of a fraught three-year transitional period following the death of longtime ruler Idriss Deby Itno and the ascension of his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby. But for many in the Central African nation, this democratic exercise feels hollow - a theater where the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) seeks to entrench power under the guise of electoral reform.

The elections, while ostensibly a step toward inclusivity, have instead deepened existing fissures. Opposition parties like SuccesMasra’s Transformers and others are boycotting the vote, decrying it as a masquerade that legitimizes the Deby family’s political dynasty. Their boycott reflects a broader crisis stoked by decades of autocracy, mismanagement, and unfulfilled promises of reform.

Chad’s modern political history is a narrative of coups and strongman rule. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the nation has been shackled by cycles of military takeovers and civilian unrest. Idriss Deby, who seized power in 1990, ruled with an iron fist until his death on the battlefield in 2021 — a dramatic end befitting his militarized tenure. Under Deby, elections were postponed with alarming regularity, and the parliament, last elected in 2011, became a tool for consolidating power rather than a platform for democratic governance.

The transitional period following Idriss Deby’s death brought hope for reform but delivered little. His son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, initially pledged swift elections, only to extend the transitional period in 2022, sparking deadly protests. Opposition leaders and civil society groups accused him of perpetuating his father’s authoritarian legacy, a charge amplified when his government cracked down on dissent, killing over 100 protesters and detaining many more.

Once a reliable ally of the Deby regime, France now finds its influence in Chad (and across Africa) waning. For decades, French troops were stationed in Chad under the guise of fighting terrorism, but critics argue that their presence propped up authoritarian regimes rather than securing peace. After Chad gained independence in 1960, France continued to exert influence through economic ties, military interventions and political backing of successive regimes, including the long-standing rule of Déby. French troops have repeatedly been deployed under the banner of stabilizing the region, most recently as part of Operation Barkhane to combat Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel. However, N’Djamena’s recent decision to sever a military pact with Paris underscores a growing sentiment of anti-French resentment across Francophone Africa.

The elections that will take place at the end of the week have over 1,000 candidates vying for 188 parliamentary seats. The shadow of manipulation looms large. Critics allege that the ruling MPS is using state machinery to rig the process. Chad’s security challenges complicate any hope for free and fair elections. The war in neighbouring Sudan has spilled over into eastern Chad, while Boko Haram continues to wreak havoc around Lake Chad. These crises, coupled with internal repression, create an environment where genuine democratic participation seems impossible.

Adding to these concerns is the government’s clampdown on press freedom. A recent ban on audiovisual content related to the elections has drawn condemnation from international rights groups, who accuse the administration of silencing dissent. Such actions only reinforce the view that Chad’s democracy remains an illusion, a façade carefully maintained to placate international observers while suppressing internal dissent.

As ballots are counted, Chad stands at a crossroads. Will this election signal the start of a genuine democratic transition, or will it merely consolidate the Deby family’s hold on power? The answer carries implications not just for Chad but for the broader Sahel region, where democratic backsliding and authoritarian resurgence threaten fragile gains.