Chad: First presidential election in decades in a post-coup context
Chad is gearing up to hold its first presidential election in three decades this Monday, May 6, against the backdrop of a series of coups d’état and an initial postponement of the elections scheduled for October 2022, which sparked demonstrations suppressed by security forces. Indeed, this vote holds particular significance as it marks the first presidential election in the Sahel region since the rise of coups d’état.
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno is the favorite to win this election, despite a determined opponent. He campaigned on the promise of improving security, strengthening the rule of law, and developing the energy sector. The election comes as US troops are temporarily withdrawing from Chad, a crucial ally for the West.
Polling stations will open at 7:00 AM to accommodate the 8.5 million registered voters, with early voting already conducted by soldiers ahead of the main polling day. Provisional results are expected on May 21, followed by the final results on June 5.
A runoff is scheduled for June 22 if necessary, should no candidate obtain more than 50% of the votes. Since coming to power, Déby has maintained close ties with France, while other Sahel countries are turning to Moscow. Chad thus retains significant French military presence in the region.
It’s worth noting that recently, the temporary withdrawal of US troops from the country was announced.
