President of the transitional government, Mahamat Idriss Déby, swiftly issued three decrees on Monday and Tuesday appointing members to the Constitutional Council and the National Election Management Agency (ANGE), tasked with overseeing the general elections scheduled before October.
The opposition strongly opposes what it perceives as institutions entirely dominated by the former ruling party, the MPS, and its allies. The government, however, asserts that key opposition figures are actively participating in this process.
Several individuals emblematic of the MPS, the party led by Idriss Déby Itno for over 30 years, as well as members of parties supporting the transitional government led by Mahamat Idriss Déby since his father’s death in April 2021, have been appointed to ANGE—the body responsible for elections. Opposition leaders now denounce ANGE as comprising personalities “aligned” with the ruling power.
Théophile Bongoro, President of the Pret party, expresses disappointment, stating, “The two commissions that we genuinely believed in were not appointed through broad consensus. I believe that the transparency and impartiality we want to associate with these elections are now in doubt.”
In response, the government’s spokesperson, Abderaman Koulamallah, candidly dismissed the critics. He argues that those currently “making noise” lack the legitimacy to speak on behalf of the opposition.
The opposition, however, remains resolute. Max Kemkoye of UDP warns of an impending “serious post-electoral crisis,” while Yaya Dillo of PSF calls for “mobilization” to thwart “a plan to seize power through fraud.” The controversy surrounding these appointments adds to the heightened tensions in Chad, raising concerns about the fairness and credibility of the upcoming elections.