Political protests are at the heart of the unrest in the streets of N’Djamena ahead of legislative and local elections scheduled for December 29 in Chad. A heated dispute is raging between the opposition, which advocates a boycott of the elections, and the ruling party, which is actively campaigning with festive rallies, neighborhood visits and market tours.
The opposition parties say that “running candidates in these predetermined elections only legitimizes a power structure seeking validation.” They argue that the elections are already a foregone conclusion and that by participating, they would be legitimizing a government they accuse of being undemocratic.
“Boycott! Don’t participate in this farce!” chant women from the Political Actors Consultation Group (GCAP) as they distribute leaflets marked with a red cross in N’Djamena’s bustling markets.
The group, made up of about 15 women in white T-shirts and white and green caps representing the coalition of opposition parties, is urging the public to reject the upcoming vote.
Florence Loardomdemadje, a spokesperson for the GCAP women, is calling on her “brothers and sisters” not to support what she calls an “electoral coup,” warning against being “deceived by traitorous leaders supported by corrupt Chadians.”
The GCAP had previously called for a boycott of the constitutional referendum in December 2023 and the presidential election in May 2024. In that election, Mahamat Idriss Déby, proclaimed president by the army after his father’s death, was re-elected in the first round. “These elections were not transparent and are illegitimate. The same thing will happen again,” Loardomdemadje says, accusing the government of ignoring the “cries of women and young people.”
This political fragmentation in Chad reveals the deep tensions and divisions within Chadian society, highlighting the challenges of democracy and the legitimacy of power. Calls to boycott the elections highlight the persistent questions about the transparency of electoral processes and democratic representation in the country. These heated debates also reveal the ardent desire for change and social justice among Chadian citizens, who aspire to a democratic and equitable future for their country.