On Saturday, December 7, Chad officially began campaigning for its legislative, municipal, and provincial elections scheduled for December 29, 2024. This marks the final phase of the political transition initiated in 2021 following the death of former President Idriss Déby. In three weeks, Chadians will head to the polls to elect deputies, mayors, and local representatives in what is being hailed as a historic moment for the country.
The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), the ruling party, kicked off its campaign with a grand rally at the Paris-Congo stadium, which was filled to capacity. The event, organized in just 48 hours, saw the presentation of nearly 3,000 candidates vying for positions in the upcoming elections. Despite the fanfare, the streets of the capital, N’Djamena, showed little sign of campaign activity.
This election is unprecedented in Chad’s history, as it combines legislative, provincial, and local elections into a single voting process. However, the legitimacy of the elections is being challenged by 15 opposition parties, which have declared a boycott, deeming the process undemocratic. Issa Doubragne, spokesperson for the MPS campaign, responded to the boycott, stating:
“The boycott is an expression of their stance. We respect their choice.”
To ensure the campaign’s reach, the MPS will deploy 23 mission heads across Chad and its diaspora zones within two days, underscoring the party’s organizational efforts.
The start of the campaign coincided with a significant protest from the Chadian media sector. On December 7, more than 40 online news outlets ceased operations, following a call by the Association of Online Media of Chad (AMET). This was in response to a decision by the High Authority of Audiovisual Media (HAMA), which banned news sites from producing audiovisual content without prior authorization. The AMET criticized the decision, calling it a violation of media laws and press freedom.
With political tensions and media freedom concerns shaping the electoral landscape, the December 29 elections will not only conclude Chad’s transition but also test its democratic resilience.