Chad elections: What you need to know

In Chad, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has struggled with an obstinate legitimacy deficit, having taken power, initially unconstitutionally, in an April 2021 military coup following the death of his father, President Idriss.

But at least the African Union (AU) did not suspend Chad from its activities, departing from the usual tradition of punishing coup plotters.

Chad itself had been under Idriss Deby, who had himself seized power in a coup, for over 30 years.

Mahamat initially pledged elections within 18 months.

 Instead, he organised an Inclusive National Dialogue which critics said had a predetermined outcome; extended the transition period by two years and tinkered with the constitution to permit him to stay at the helm of the country.

Though still a military ruler, he has shown an image of a leader in civilian wear.

When is the election?

Ahead of elections next month, the 40-year-old General is among 10 candidates seeking to occupy the country’s highest office.

Chadians will head to the polls on May 6 for the first round of the presidential election organised through direct universal suffrage using a two-round majority system.

A second round, if necessary, will be held on June 22 with results expected on July 7. The election is meant to put an end to three-year military rule.

With less than two weeks to the election, electoral campaigns have intensified in the country with the candidates selected by the Constitutional Council last month crisscrossing from provinces to cities, from neighborhoods to hamlets to sell their vision to the electors, though analysts say there is a visible lack of enthusiasm among Chadians.

Among the ten candidates are well known political figures in the country, some members of the National Transitional Council as well as first-timers.

Who stands a chance?

 As a candidate of the Patriotic Salvation Movement, technically the ruling party, Mahamat Deby is undoubtedly a favourite in this race.

He is supported by the broader Tchad Uni (For a United Chad) coalition. Launching his campaign in N’Djamena, he promised to strengthen security and boost the economy if elected.

Like him, other candidates bidding to lead the Sahel country of nearly 19 million have been promising to ensure security, tackle youth unemployment, and steer the country to a brighter future.

Deby’s top challenger is Succes Masra, an economist and opposition leader appointed Prime Minister of the Transition in January following his return from exile.

The leader of The Transformers party is backed by the Justice and Equality coalition. In the capital N’Djamena, banners with his effigy have been flying with the opposition leader touted as the candidate of the people.

He told the media in N’Djamena that this was a grassroots campaign where they are going to meet and dialogue with Chadians, but main opposition rivals have accused Masra of collaborating with Deby to legitimize his stay at the helm.

Albert Pahimi Padacke, 58-year-old former Prime Minister is a regular contender.

He came in second in the country’s previous election which Deby the father won in April 2021 just before he was killed.

A seasoned politician, Padacke served as Prime Minister from 2016 until the post was abolished in 2018. The transitional government appointed him Prime Minister again in 2021 and he held the position until October 2022.

 Other contenders

The first female presidential candidate in Chad's history, Lydie Beassemda, is hoping to be the country’s first female president this time. The University of Quebec-trained agri-food industries engineer came third in her first attempt in 2021. She has been Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation since 2021.

At least six other candidates for the election are linked to the National Transition Council.

Alladoum Djarma Baltazar, 49, was a candidate in 2021 and currently member of the Budget and Finance Commission of the National Transition Council.

 Bebzoune Bongoro Theophile, 58-year-old Public Notary, who was a candidate for the Victory Coalition in 2021 but later withdrew his candidacy, has been Vice President of the General Political, Fundamental Rights and Liberties Commission of the Transition Council since 2021.

 At his third participation, Mbaimon Guedmbaye Brice, 48, is National Councilor of the Transition Council. He has promised to end the sorry story of Chadians who he says ''have not had any reason to be happy for more than 20 years''. He was a candidate in 2016 and 2021.

 A first-timer, Nasra Djimasngar, 49, a former member of the Independent National Electoral Commission where he served from 2009 – 2012 is hoping to also lead the country.

 After taking part in 2022 national inclusive dialogue, the Assistant lecturer of private law at the University of N’Djamena replaced Brice Mbaimon Guedmbaye as coordinator of the National Political Consultation Framework under the Transition Council in July 2023.

 Yacine Abderamane Sakine, 39, was among people arrested in late 2022 for protesting against the Transitional Military Council's governance.

 The former Director General of Taxes who leads The Reformists party later took part in the Inclusive National Dialogue at the end of which he was appointed National Councilor of the Transition Council and now he wants to also lead the country.

The opposition leader represents and is adored by youth in the country according to local media reports.

Mansiri Lopsekreo is seen as an outsider in the election.

The 41-year-old economic operator says his choice to bid for the highest office in the country is “for the love of his country and not for money”.

 Fair or unfair?

Despite the number of candidates, some analysts say the May 6 vote is a travesty to legitimise Mahamat Deby’s stay at the helm as significant political rivals like Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami, Rakhis Ahmat Saleh and Ahmat Hassaballah Soubiane were disqualified from running.

 “The candidates left in the running are unlikely to challenge Deby's dominance, as the more candidates there are, the more divided the opposition votes become. Consequently, it appears inevitable that Mahamat Deby will emerge victorious,” said Mohamed Kheir Omer, a writer and researcher based in Norway but who analyses political movements in the central African region.

Evariste Ngarlem Tolde, a political scientist and researcher at the University of N’Djamena agrees: “It seems to me that there is no election because all these candidates are people who have accompanied the transition,” he says, adding that everything has been done to ensure Deby’s victory.

 “For example members of the National Agency for the Management of Elections (ANGE), the Constitutional Council, and the Supreme Court are all stalwarts of the ruling party or its allies, appointed by the president who is a candidate…they will do everything to ensure their candidate wins in the first round,” Dr Tolde said.

 Chad has been in turmoil since independence and Omer thinks another victory for the Deby clan could potentially make the country a family business, risking its political stability.