Democracy News

Opposition Calls for Boycott in Chadian Presidential Election
April 25, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On April 25, voters went to the polls in Chad, with Idriss Deby, the country's sitting president, virtually assured of re-election after his three main opposition rivals had previously announced that they would boycott the election. The country’s main opposition leaders – Saleh Kebzabo of the National Union for Democracy and Renewal, Wadal Kamougue of the Union for Renewal and Ngarlejy Yorongar of the Action for the Republic – withdrew from what they described as an "election circus" and urged citizens to abstain from voting. In response, Deby stated that the real reason for his rivals' decision not to participate in the elections is that "they realize they will be beaten," All Africa reports. Deby seized power during a coup in 1990, and previously won the country’s 1996, 2001 and 2006 presidential elections.

According to Radio Netherlands, on April 23, during an election rally on the last day of campaigning, Deby addressed a crowd of 20,000 people and invited Chadians to "abandon ideas that divide [them]." On the same day, the three main opposition candidates addressed a rally attended by more than 1,000 people and urged them to boycott the poll. The boycott left Deby facing only two opposition candidates, Albert Pahimi Padacke and Nadji Madou. Both presidential hopefuls represented smaller opposition parties and did not contend Deby’s rule.

Reuters reports that the opposition claims that unfair electoral conditions also caused Deby's Patriotic Movement of Salvation (known by its French acronym MPS) to crush during the country’s parliamentary elections in February 2011. The results of that election showed that Deby's MPS party won an absolute majority with 113 of the 188 seats in parliament against an opposition of more than 100 parties.

On April 27, the African Union observer mission leader to Chad, Mali ex-prime minister Ibrahim Boukar Keita, stated that the election abided by international standards. "The organization and running of the presidential election of April 25, 2011, conformed to national legal and regulatory requirements as well as international standards," Boukar stated. The mission did recommend, "The pursuit of dialogue between players across the political spectrum", Radio Netherlands reports.

Landlocked between Niger and Sudan, Chad is one of Africa's poorest countries, despite the abundant raw materials that the country possesses it has high rates of malnourishment and illiteracy.

For Previous News on Chad Please See:
Chad’s First Election Since 2002 Tests Strongman President’s Rule 

Sources:
Reuters – Chad leader poised to win vote boycotted by rivals

All Africa – Deby Assured of Re-Election in Presidentials

Radio Netherlands – Chad vote conformed to international standards: AU observers

CIA World Factbook – Chad