Chad’s Acting President Deby Announces his candidacy.
Chad’s interim President, Mahamat Idriss Deby, announced his intention to participate in this year’s highly anticipated presidential race on Saturday. This confirmation follows a tumultuous week marked by the shooting and death of opposition politician Yaya Dillo in the capital, N’Djamena.
The circumstances surrounding Dillo’s death on Wednesday have added complexity to an already divided ruling elite in Chad. The incident has brought to light internal divisions within the government as the Central African nation prepares for the long-awaited return to democratic rule through elections. The Chadian government asserts that Dillo was killed in a gunfire exchange with security forces, accusing members of his party of also attacking the internal security agency.
Adding to the complexity, General Saleh Deby Itno, the uncle of President Deby, who had recently defected to Dillo’s opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF), was confirmed to have been arrested in connection to the events on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah stated that Itno had been charged by the public prosecutor, clarifying that his life is not in danger, without specifying the charges he faces.
The Chadian rebel group, the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), and the CNRD opposition party have labeled Dillo’s death as an assassination. The URT opposition party expressed that Dillo “democratically opposed the dangerous trajectory of the military transition in Chad,” characterizing recent events as a deliberate attempt to silence political opposition.
In a speech addressing supporters and state officials, President Deby announced his candidacy for the upcoming May-June election. Notably, his speech made no reference to Dillo’s killing or his uncle’s arrest. Deby had initially promised an 18-month transition to elections after assuming power in 2021 following his father’s death in clashes with rebels. However, subsequent resolutions by his government postponed elections until 2024, allowing him to run for president.
The electoral delay led to protests that were forcefully quelled by security forces, resulting in the loss of around 50 civilian lives. Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding the political landscape in Chad, President Deby expressed acceptance of his nomination with a mix of “honour, humility, responsibility, and gratitude.” His candidacy sets the stage for a pivotal election amid heightened political tensions and calls for democratic stability in the Central African nation.
