Chadians voted Sunday in parliamentary and regional elections, ending three years of military rule but marred by an opposition boycott.
The vote is the first in over a decade, following junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s disputed presidential victory earlier this year.
Deby, who took power in 2021 after his father’s death, faces accusations of consolidating a dynastic regime.
More than 8 million voters registered to elect 188 legislators and local representatives, with results expected in two weeks.
The Transformers party, led by former prime minister Succes Masra, joined ten opposition groups in boycotting, calling the vote a “charade.”
Masra urged voters to abstain, alleging rigging efforts.
The opposition coalition, GCAP, condemned the elections as a ploy to legitimize Deby’s prolonged rule, further deepening political divides.
Amid security challenges and severed ties with France, political experts warn that Chad’s democracy risks being overshadowed by an extended transition.
