Following the certification of final presidential election results by Chad’s Constitutional Council on May 16, the United States has expressed commendation for those who exercised their right to vote on May 5-6. The U.S. welcomed the peaceful conduct of the voting and its aftermath, despite expressing regret over multiple casualties from celebratory gunfire that followed the announcement of provisional results on May 9.
While the ten candidates who were permitted to run generally adhered to the code of electoral conduct and were able to campaign nationally, concerns have been raised about ten other candidates who were disqualified without any avenue for appeal prior to the campaign. There are also concerns that the revision of the electoral list may have omitted many young voters who turned 18 after 2021. Additionally, thousands of civil society and opposition party observers were barred from observing the electoral process on the day before the vote, including over 2,500 EU-trained observers.
Despite these troubling shortcomings, milestones in Chad’s transition process have been acknowledged. These include negotiating with insurgents, undertaking a National Dialogue, holding a constitutional referendum, and conducting a presidential election. However, there is regret that Chad’s transitional government was not fully inclusive in setting up institutions responsible for organizing elections and adjudicating electoral disputes. This exclusion contributed to legitimate concerns about transparency that undermined public confidence in both the election and democratic process.
The U.S. urges Chadian authorities to work with all stakeholders – especially political parties and civil society organizations – to address any concerns with this election and strengthen inclusivity and transparency within Chad’s institutional framework for future elections.
