Chad, a central African country, has just experienced a crucial moment in its political history with the constitutional referendum held on December 17, 2023. The provisional results have just been announced, with an overwhelming victory for the “yes” vote. “86% against only 14% for “no”, according to the National Commission responsible for organizing the constitutional referendum (Conorec). This new constitutional text is supposed to pave the way for elections for a return to civilian power, thus putting an end to the current transition period.
The participation rate announced by the National Commission amounts to 63.75%, an encouraging figure which shows the involvement of citizens in this democratic process. Indeed, voter participation was one of the major issues of this referendum, because it determined the credibility of the vote.
The reactions of the various political actors are eagerly awaited. The “yes” coalition, led by transitional Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo, is delighted with this result which represents a victory for their camp. For their part, supporters of a federal state had called for a “no” vote or a boycott of the referendum, denouncing a process they consider biased.
The draft new Constitution proposed by the transitional government maintains the unitary form of the State with strong decentralization. It aims to lay the foundations for a more balanced and inclusive political system, promoting the participation of all citizens.
One of the main modifications made by this new text is the lowering of the minimum age for running for president, going from 45 to 35 years old. This opens the possibility for younger political leaders to run for the presidential position, thus providing an opportunity for a new generation to access the highest political responsibilities.
Among the personalities who could benefit from it, we find Mahamat Idriss Deby, current leader of Chad since the death of his father in April 2021. His candidacy for the next presidential election then becomes possible thanks to this reform. Likewise, the opponent Succès Masra, who had initially expressed reservations, ultimately chose to support the “yes” vote considering that it was the “lesser evil”.
This referendum therefore constitutes a decisive step in Chad’s democratic process. With the adoption of this new Constitution, the country is moving closer to the organization of free and transparent elections by the end of 2024. However, there are still many challenges to overcome to consolidate this transition towards civilian rule and to ensure real respect for democratic rights.
In conclusion, Chad has taken an important step with the constitutional referendum of December 17, 2023. The provisional results show a large victory for “yes”, with an encouraging participation rate.. This new Constitution paves the way for elections for a return to civilian rule, thus offering new political perspectives for the country. However, challenges remain to ensure a successful democratic transition.