**Fatshimetrie: The stakes of Chad’s local and parliamentary elections**
Political tensions are rising in Chad as candidates for local and parliamentary elections hold their final rallies before Sunday’s vote. Residents of the capital, Ndjamena, are expressing dissatisfaction with the current representation and expressing a desire to see better leaders emerge for the city.
“There are a lot of things to do. The city needs a lot for its urbanization,” says Tadjo Djabongodi, a resident of Ndjamena, highlighting the population’s expectations for urban development.
However, following the disappointing result of the presidential election last May, many citizens doubt that Sunday’s vote will bring real change. “We don’t have a really viable candidate, so I don’t expect anything. It won’t be different from previous elections,” says Samadar Abdou, highlighting a general sense of distrust towards the ongoing electoral process.
The ruling party, the MPS, is making every effort to maintain its majority and strengthen President Mahamat’s mandate by winning the majority of seats in municipalities and parliament. However, the party that came second in the presidential election, the party of former Prime Minister Succes Masra, has decided to boycott the election. The Chadian opposition appears divided and fragmented, with no real means of effectively confronting the government in place.
These elections come just seven months after the presidential election that extended the reign of the Deby family in this oil-producing country in Central Africa. In a political landscape marked by dissension and uncertainty, Chad’s political future seems uncertain, with no real emerging alternative emerging.
Beyond local political issues, these elections highlight the need for deeper reflection on governance and the representativeness of leaders in Chad. Citizens’ expectations for development and better living conditions require an appropriate political response, capable of meeting the needs of the population and ensuring a more stable and prosperous future for all.