Officials have reported that the recent referendum in Chad, which took place earlier this month, has been approved by 86 percent of voters. This approval comes despite criticism from some who are concerned that the new constitution could further consolidate the power of military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby. The government commission responsible for organizing the referendum stated that voter turnout was around 64 percent.
Chad’s military authorities have characterized the vote as a crucial step towards elections next year, marking a promised return to democratic rule after seizing power in 2021 following the death of former President Idriss Deby during a conflict with rebels.
While some opponents of the new constitution had called for the creation of a federal state to promote development, several opposition groups boycotted the vote, citing concerns over the military’s control of the process. Supporters of the new constitution argue that it offers more independence, allowing Chadians to choose their local representatives and collect local taxes for the first time.
The military had previously suspended the constitution and dissolved the parliament after Deby’s death, leading to the installation of his son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, as interim president by the military Transitional Military Council.
Decades of instability since Chad’s independence in 1960 have hindered development in the country, where nearly 40 percent of the population relies on humanitarian aid.