A significant portion of the country’s civil society and opposition in central Africa are advocating for a boycott.
They contend that the purpose of the referendum is to make it easier for General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the current transitional president, to be elected and to carry on the “dynasty” that his late father, who oversaw a coup 33 years ago, started.
A well-funded campaign by the ruling junta against a split opposition that has endured threats, arrests, and intimidation for over a year appears to have ensured the success of the “yes” camp.
The capital, N’Djamena, is covered in banners urging people to vote “yes” in order to enact a constitution for a “unitary and decentralised state”.
It is very similar to the constitution that the military overthrew in 2021 and established, which established a government in which the head of state holds the lion’s share of power.
The “no” vote is supported by the opposition, which is pro-federalism.
Retorting that federalism would promote “separatism” and “chaos,” the “yes” side claims that a unitary state is the only option to maintain unity.
The Supreme Court is expected to confirm the preliminary findings four days after they are expected to be released in late December.
The Deby Dynasty
In an attempt to undermine a leader they accuse of upholding a 33-year “Deby dynasty,” the two major platforms of anti-junta parties and civil society organisations have called for a boycott.
The words “Stop the referendum” and a large red cross have been posted on posters wherever they can find room.
According to Max Loalngar, coordinator of one of the organisations, Wakit Tamma, they are expecting that a low attendance will damage the referendum’s legitimacy, which is “purely and simply legitimising the dynasty that they want to impose on us”.
He declined to identify the exile nation he was speaking over the phone with AFP.
Certain boycott proponents disregarded the opposing viewpoints.
“Regardless of whether they are running for “yes” or “no,” they are all the same. “They have divided the money among themselves,” GCAP opposition platform member Badono Daigou stated at a demonstration.
“It’s obvious what will happen. “The ‘yes’ vote will prevail.”
In April 2021, Mahamat Deby, 37, was named interim president by the army after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, was slain by rebels while travelling to the front lines of battle.
For over thirty years, Deby senior has dominated Chad, which the UN ranks as the second least developed country in the world, with an iron grip.
His son pledged to the African Union not to participate in elections and promised to hold them after an 18-month transition period when he assumed office.
However, eighteen months later, his government gave the transition an extra year and allowed him to run in the end-of-2024 presidential election.
Repression of opposition
The opposition and domestic and international NGOs claim that on October 20, 2022, the anniversary of the 18-month transition, between 100 and 300 young men and teenagers were shot and killed in N’Djamena by police and military.
They had been protesting peacefully against the transitional government’s two-year prolongation.
According to NGOs and the opposition, more than a thousand more were detained before being freed, and scores more were tortured or vanished.
The majority backed notable opposition leader Succes Masra, who had long opposed the Deby dynasty.
However, Masra left the country in late October after signing a peace deal with the government, and he has been urging his supporters to vote “yes” on Sunday from his exile.
Following the period of time known as the “Black Thursday” repression, protests have been consistently outlawed, and numerous opposition figures have left Chad out of fear for their lives.
“The opposition parties and their activists must feel free to meet and campaign in order for there to be any legitimacy,” the Human Rights Watch organisation stated in October.
“Otherwise, there is a risk that the referendum will be seen as a means of transforming the transitional government into a permanent one.”
AAFP
