Chadians have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a new constitution, marking a crucial step towards elections and the restoration of civilian rule in Chad, which has been under military control since 2021. The country’s electoral commission revealed that 86% of voters supported the new constitution, maintaining a “unitary and decentralized state,” while 14% voted against it. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad has been a unitary state, but some opposition groups advocate for federalization, arguing that it could spur development in a nation where nearly 40% of the population relies on humanitarian aid.
Despite the electoral success, several opposition groups, questioning the independence of the election commission, had called for a boycott of the vote. Brice Nguedmbaye Mbaimon, leader of a coalition opposing the new constitution, expressed disappointment with the outcome, labeling the reported figures as “imaginary and fanciful.” He argued that Chad had been a unitary state for over 50 years with little progress.
The electoral commission reported a turnout of 63.75% among the 8 million eligible voters, and the results are expected to be validated by the Supreme Court within four days. The military authorities view the referendum as a crucial step towards organizing elections next year.
Chad’s interim president, Mahamat Idriss Deby (Mahamat Kaka), assumed leadership after his father, Idriss Deby, was killed in 2021. Initially pledging elections within 18 months, the government extended the deadline to October 2024, prompting protests that resulted in the deaths of over 100 civilians.
During a visit to France in October, Mahamat Kaka assured French President Emmanuel Macron of his government’s commitment to meeting transitional obligations. Chad remains a key ally of France in the Sahel region, unlike other West African countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where recent coups severed military ties with France, accusing it of interference. Despite opposition protests against French presence in Chad, authorities in the Central African nation have praised France as a “long-standing” and “reliable” partner with whom they have a mutually beneficial bilateral agreement.
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