Concerns Arise Over Early Campaigning in Chad’s Presidential Election

Early Campaigning Raises Concerns Ahead of Chad’s Presidential Election

In the capital city of N’Djamena, billboards and posters promoting the candidacies of junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby and Prime Minister Succes Masra have already been erected, even though the official start of campaigns for the presidential election is still weeks away. According to election authorities, campaigning is scheduled to begin on April 14th, with the vote itself taking place on May 6th.

However, opposition candidates have voiced their concerns about the lack of a level playing field. Nasra Djimasrgar, a candidate, expressed frustration, stating, “Since April 1st, they’ve been campaigning on billboards that endorse specific candidates, including the president and the prime minister, who is also a candidate. This is undermining the credibility of the election process.”

Djimasrgar and other candidates argue that the early campaigning gives an unfair advantage to Deby and Masra, allowing them 35 days of vote hunting instead of the 21 days stipulated in the electoral code. Albert Pahami, a former prime minister and candidate, criticized the electoral commission’s failure to address this violation, stating, “The lack of authority and neutrality displayed by the electoral administration is concerning and raises questions about the future of this process.”

In response to the situation, the election authority has issued a statement requesting Deby and Masra to cease their early campaigns. Chad, an oil-rich central African state, has a history of organizing elections that lack credibility. The concerns raised by opposition candidates highlight the need for a fair and transparent electoral process to ensure the legitimacy of the upcoming presidential election in Chad.