Vote counting underway in Chad's elections, 36% turnout reported

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo

Vote counting for Chad's general elections, boycotted by the main opposition party, continued on Monday, with the electoral authority reporting a turnout of just over 36% in Sunday's poll.

Despite Chadian President Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno's appeal to encourage people to vote for members of a new parliament, provincial assemblies, and local councils, the National Agency for the Management of Elections (ANGE) reported a low turnout of 36.22%.

Over 8 million voters were registered at 26,617 polling stations across the country. Ballot counting is currently underway, and provisional results are expected by January 15.

Election observers in the capital N'Djamena and other regions reported a peaceful voting process with no major incidents, but they also noted a lack of enthusiasm among voters.

The opposition Les Transformateurs party, led by former Prime Minister Succes Masra, boycotted the elections, claiming that the results were pre-determined.

"The outcome is already predetermined," Masra said in a Facebook live broadcast on Monday, adding, "We refuse to be part of a facade and urge Chadians to stay at home."

He criticized, what he called, a “system built on lies and electoral fraud” and emphasized the need for “real change” to uplift one of the world's poorest nations.

However, the military and nomadic people had significantly higher participation in Sunday’s general elections.

The ANGE reported that 72% of military personnel and 54% of nomadic voters voted on Saturday for logistical reasons.

These elections took place against the backdrop of Chad's political, economic, and security challenges. They are viewed as critical in shaping the nation's future.

Chad, a predominantly desert Sahelian country, has been led by Marshal Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, 40, since 2021, when his father, Idriss Deby Itno, died.

He won a five-year term in a contentious May 2024 election that the opposition labeled fraudulent.

These general elections are a critical step for Deby to consolidate his authority, secure a parliamentary majority, and strengthen his control over local governance structures.