Chad prepares for presidential election following 3 years under military rule

After a period of three years under military governance, Chad is set to conduct its presidential election on Monday with the aim of transitioning to a democracy.

The frontrunner among the 10 candidates is General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who took control in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was sworn in as the president of the Transitional Military Council.

At 40 years old, he assumed leadership of the Central African nation following the death of his father, who had ruled Chad since 1990 until succumbing to injuries sustained on the frontline while visiting troops in the north fighting insurgents.

Chad, with a population of approximately 19 million, has never witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from France, its former colonial ruler, in 1960.

Although Déby declared that his presidency was temporary and aimed at guiding Chad towards a new democratic system, there are concerns over the fairness of the upcoming election given the suppression of opposition protests under his regime.