Togo and Chad launch campaigns for historic elections in April-May
Campaigning has begun in Togo and Chad, as the former prepares for historic regional and legislative elections against a backdrop of protests over the government’s constitutional change, while the latter will see its military ruler, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, attempting to cement his rule with a victory in the country’s presidential election.
The electoral campaign for Togo’s legislative and first-ever regional elections kicked off Saturday (13 April) in the country’s capital Lomé. The elections, initially scheduled for 20 April, have been rescheduled to 29 April over a highly contested constitutional reform, the government said in a statement last week, explaining that consultations were needed over the reform, which opposition parties called a bid to keep the incumbent President Faure Gnassingbe in power longer. For two main opposition parties — The National Alliance for Change (ANC) and the Forces Démocratiques Républicaines (FDR), the question of changing the constitution is a major issue at stake in these elections. Meanwhile, supporters of the ruling UNIR party also took to the streets, out to conquer the electorate.
Meanwhile, in Chad, the interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby kicked off his presidential campaign on Sunday (14 April) for an election on 6 May meant to be a transition back to democracy after three years of military rule. Deby said on state TV that if elected as Chad’s president, he will maintain peace and develop the central African state. The general who seized power after the death of his father in 2021, initially promised an 18-month transition period but later appointed himself as the head of a transitional government. Nine candidates, including pro-democracy figure and transitional prime minister Success Masra, are seeking to challenge Deby in the election. They all say that Deby merely wants to cement his rule as he does not want to lose his family’s grip on power.
The outcomes of the elections in Togo and Chad will be watched closely by the international community, as these could not only reshape the political landscape in both countries but also set a precedent for democratic processes in the region.
