Chad’s Power Play: Political Drama Amidst Tragedy and Tensions

Written by James Kessler | March 4, 2024

/// Mahamat Idriss Deby ///

This week, Chadian interim leader and military chief, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has formally declared his candidacy for the country’s presidential elections. Elections are set to take place on May 6^th. Deby came to power in 2021 after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, the then president, was killed fighting rebels in the Northern reaches of the country. Deby has seen support from more than 220 associations and political parties, but much of this endorsement is overlooked by what has taken place recently. 

In the last few weeks, the opposition party has seen raids on its headquarters, the arrest of several members, and the killing of its leader, Yaya Dillo. Coincidentally, these events unfolded just days before the interim leader announced his run for president. Dillo had been a strong contender in the upcoming elections. Still, recent attacks on the National State Security Agency have been blamed on him and his party, the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF). Dillo denied these claims, but it did not stop the Chadian security forces from assaulting the party’s headquarters. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has since called for independent investigations to take place surrounding the circumstances of Dillo’s death. The Central African director of HRW, Lewis Mudge, has stated that details of Dillo’s killing “are unclear but his violent death highlights the dangers facing opposition politicians in Chad, particularly as elections approach.”
The circumstances around the death of a prominent opposition leader are lending themselves to increased tensions and confusion as elections inch closer. As of February 29^th, security forces have maintained a presence in the capital city, and internet access has remained blocked. This ongoing power struggle is likely to continue, and increased violence is highly likely. Still, with the leading voice of the opposition out of the way, it sets the stage for the younger Deby to seize even greater power.