Chad is facing growing unrest as opposition factions and groups identifying as civil society have promised to derail the elections scheduled for Sunday.
They claim the polls are rigged to favour President Mahamat Idriss Deby and have been travelling to various areas, urging residents to stay home to avoid potential violence in the streets.
In N’djamena, the capital, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the country ahead of the anticipated vote.
Limana Abba, a university student in N’djamena, shared his concerns in a conversation with VOA on Friday. He revealed that individuals opposed to the elections have been canvassing neighborhoods, warning people against participating in the vote.
He doubts that he or most eligible voters will feel safe casting their ballots, given the threats made by opposition groups and certain organizations claiming to represent the interests of civil society.
In Chad, civil society groups are expected to promote governance, democracy, and human rights. However, questions remain over whether the groups issuing violent threats align with this mandate.
Abba also expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to provide adequate protection for voters, election officials, and candidates, even though authorities have promised to ensure their safety.
State officials announced on television that security forces, including the police and military, have been mobilized to protect lives, property, and the voting process. They also warned against any potential misuse of weapons by dissatisfied groups.
As the election date nears, anti-election campaigns by political factions and affiliated organizations have intensified across the country.
Soumaine Adoum, representing the coalition Wakit Tama, which consists of more than a hundred organizations, spoke at a press conference in N’djamena on Thursday.
He criticized Deby for trying to extend the power his father, Idriss Deby Itno, had held for three decades. Adoum urged citizens to boycott the polls, describing the current administration as plagued by corruption, human rights abuses, suppression of free expression, and arbitrary arrests of opposition members.
He also accused the Elections Management Body (ANGE) of failing to conduct credible polls, alleging that government forces are prepared to manipulate the results, just as he claims happened during the presidential elections in May.
Both Deby and ANGE have consistently denied such allegations, with ANGE insisting that it ensures elections are conducted fairly and transparently, free from government interference.
The body has appealed to citizens to defy intimidation and vote, emphasizing the importance of participating in the nation’s democratic progress.
However, arrests of opposition figures and activists have escalated in the lead-up to the elections.
Authorities reported questioning several individuals this week following complaints from the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement, which alleged that its campaign workers were attacked and election materials destroyed.
Sunday’s elections are intended to bring closure to Chad’s transitional period, which began after the death of former President Idriss Deby Itno in April 2021.
The parliamentary vote is expected to reestablish the National Assembly, which was dissolved when the military assumed control after Deby’s death.
Officials say security forces will cast their votes on Saturday and remain on high alert on Sunday to address any incidents of violence that might arise during the general voting process.
