In this turbulent political period in Chad, the party Les Transformateurs, led by the opponent Succès Masra, recently announced its decision not to participate in the legislative and local elections scheduled for December 29. This decision, announced during a commemorative ceremony marking the second anniversary of the bloody repression of “Black Thursday” in Ndjamena, has sparked mixed reactions within the Chadian political class.
Succès Masra justified his party’s choice by emphasizing that participating in the elections under the current conditions would amount to endorsing a process that he considers to be marred by irregularities and a lack of transparency. He also advocated for a postponement of the polls in order to take the time to revise the electoral texts and strengthen electoral institutions to guarantee a democratic and inclusive process.
In response to this announcement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Government Spokesperson expressed his disappointment, describing the Transformers’ decision as “political amateurism” and stressing the importance of the participation of all political actors in the electoral process to ensure its legitimacy and transparency.
This divergence of views highlights the political tensions and democratic challenges that characterize the country in this period of transition. While some call for respect for electoral rules and the participation of all parties, others stress the need to guarantee fair and equitable conditions for free and transparent elections.
In this complex context, the Transformers’ decision not to compete in the elections raises questions about the future of the democratic process in Chad and the ability of political actors to overcome their differences to work together to build a more just and democratic society. It is now up to the authorities and the various political actors to find consensual solutions to guarantee credible elections and ease the tensions that threaten the stability of the country.