Chad - 2016 Election President
Chad’s President Idriss Deby was re-elected for a fifth term in office, the country’s elections commission 22 April 2016. Deby gathered 61.56 percent of the votes, the commission said. The turnout at the election was about 76 percent.
The Monitoring Committee of the political agreement of 2007 was replaced in April 2013 by a new structure, the "National policy dialogue framework", responsible for preparing the next elections (parliamentary initially planned in 2015, president in 2016). The latter was joined at the end of May 2014 the main opposition coalition.
The adoption of a constitutional law by the Chadian National Assembly, February 27, 2015 extended the mandate of that meeting, which was scheduled to expire July 20, 2015, "until the establishment of the new assembly " - parliamentary elections were planned for 2017. the biometric census operations of the electorate were completed on 15 December 2015, paving the way for the holding of presidential elections on the due date.
Unlike the two previous elections, the opposition had decided to participate in the electoral contest, presenting 12 candidates face the incumbent. The campaign was marked in particular by a strong mobilization of collective civil society. Voting operations (10 April) took place in a calm and were also characterized by good participation of Chadian voters (66%). The results, announced May 3 by the Constitutional Council, give victory to the incumbent president with a score of 59.92%, ahead of Mr Saleh Kebzabo (UNDR) to 12.77%.
In terms of governance, even if the country's image abroad remains negative, the exercise of fundamental freedoms is real on much of Chad. The press and associations (of human rights or other) act quite freely. The "States General of the press" in May 2009 led to the adoption of a new press law on 18 August 2010, which abolishes prison sentences for press offenses, including the offense of insulting the head of the state, but allows release of suspension for six months.
On May 5, 2016 Chad’s Constitutional Council announced that President Deby Itno had won re-election for a fifth term. The United States welcomed the technical improvements to the electoral process this year, including the introduction of biometric voter identification cards, and encourages the government to correct remaining deficiencies. We further call on the government to demonstrate its commitment to democracy by opening more civic and political space, which will bring greater credibility to future elections. The US expressed concern about reports of abuse and kidnapping targeting opposition supporters and urge the Chadian Government to fully investigate and account for these allegations. "Those found responsible for any misconduct or abuses should be brought to justice through a credible, transparent process in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Chad."
In the April 2016 presidential election, voters re-elected President Deby to a fifth term with 59.92 percent of the vote; Saleh Kebzabo placed second with 12.8 percent. While the election was orderly and had a high voter turnout, it was neither free nor fair, and there were numerous irregularities. According to the African Union, staff at polling stations was not adequately trained, 81 percent of ballot boxes observed had not been checked to see if they were empty at the start of polling, and 10 percent of polling stations did not provide secrecy in voting. Runner-up Kebzabo refused to accept the outcome of the vote, stating that it was an “electoral stickup.” Other opposition politicians cited alleged ballot stuffing and the disappearance of ballot boxes.
Some military personnel were required to vote in the open, in front of colleagues and superiors. According to pan-African television channel Africa 24, more than two dozen military members were reportedly jailed and beaten for refusing to vote for the president. FM Liberte coverage included opposition calls for the Independent National Electoral Commission to discount the results of military voting pending investigation. Opponents of the regime were jailed for organizing peaceful protests. In the meantime, the situation deteriorated even further.
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