The campaign for the presidential elections in Chad has concluded, and the incumbent president, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has been confirmed as the winner [fe9cbd37]. However, human rights organizations continue to raise concerns about the state of human rights in the country. The Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme (LTDH), the Association Jeunesse pour la Paix et la Non-violence (AJPNV), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) have called on the Chadian population to choose a candidate who will respect fundamental rights and freedoms and put an end to the widespread practice of torture in the country [3445ffe7] [fe9cbd37].
The concerns raised by these organizations highlight the need for transparency and respect for human rights in Chad. The international community will be closely watching the electoral process and its aftermath to ensure that fundamental rights and freedoms are upheld [3445ffe7].
The outcome of the presidential election in Chad has significant regional implications. The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union has refrained from classifying Chad's transition as unconstitutional and has focused on influencing the transition [b219107b]. The election will impact Chad's stability and the region's efforts for peace in the Lake Chad Basin and Sahel. It will also set a benchmark for how regional and continental organizations respond to the threat of putschists as presidents and test the African Union's resolve to enforce norms and principles on unconstitutional changes of government [b219107b].
The concerns raised by human rights organizations and the regional implications of Chad's election highlight the need for transparency, respect for human rights, and the role of regional and continental organizations in managing transitions and upholding democratic norms [3445ffe7] [b219107b].
Chad held elections on May 6 to elect a president, but the elected president, Mahamat Idriss Déby, was the leader of the military-backed Transitional Military Council (CMT) and not a civilian. There were allegations of fraud and widespread repression and killing of protesters during the campaign [028e6844]. Chad has a history of coups and authoritarian rule, with General Idriss Déby, Mahamat's father, ruling for over three decades. The transition to democracy has been delayed, and a new constitution was approved in a referendum that allowed Mahamat Déby to run for president and made his rule permanent [028e6844]. Chad's foreign partners, including France, have not pressured for democracy due to their strategic interests in the region. The presence of French troops in Chad has been a target of anger from democracy activists [028e6844]. The situation in Chad suggests little hope for genuine democracy in the country [028e6844].
In a separate development, the authorities in Rwanda have cracked down on the opposition, media, and critics ahead of general elections scheduled for July 15, 2024. Fourteen members of the unregistered Dalfa-Umurinzi opposition party and four journalists and critics are behind bars. Since the country’s last presidential election in 2017, at least five opposition members and four critics and journalists have died or disappeared in suspicious circumstances. Human Rights Watch has called on the Rwandan authorities to end arbitrary detentions and guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, essential to genuinely free and fair elections [053dc1cd].
The situation in Rwanda highlights the importance of respecting human rights and ensuring a level playing field for all political actors in the electoral process. The international community should closely monitor the situation and put pressure on the Rwandan government to uphold democratic principles and protect the rights of its citizens [053dc1cd].