Chad: Press release from the Electoral Mission of the Francophonie

At the invitation of the Chadian transitional authorities, the Secretary General of La Francophonie deployed an Electoral Mission of La Francophonie (MEF), on the occasion of the presidential election of May 6, 2024.  
The MEF met, throughout its stay in N’Djamena, with members of the government, bodies and institutions responsible for the management, supervision and control of elections, candidates and political parties, representatives of civil society and moral and religious authorities. The mission also met with international, bilateral and multilateral partners, and regional and international electoral missions.  

The various exchanges allowed the MEF to learn about the general context, the electoral campaign and the final preparatory phases for the presidential election.  

The MEF welcomes the mobilization, enthusiasm and calm demonstrated by the Chadian population, the plurality of candidates and the suitable and peaceful conditions for the conduct of the electoral campaign, without violence or major clashes.  

On election day, the mission visited polling stations in several districts of the city of N’Djamena and its surroundings, and noted the opening of polling stations with general respect for opening and closing times. , the presence of sufficient electoral equipment, including ballot boxes and voting booths, control of voting operations and procedures, a significant presence of women and young people as members of polling stations and voters, as well as counting in the presence of candidate delegates and citizens.  
The MEF welcomes the efforts of all those involved in holding the election throughout the country despite a particularly tight electoral calendar. 

The MEF notes, however, the absence of revision of the electoral register, the non-accreditation of a large part of the national observers, and the circulation of two different versions of the Constitution and the Electoral Code.  
Committed to preserving peace and strengthening democracy and the rule of law in Chad, the MEF calls on stakeholders to do everything possible to favor dialogue and consultation and to resort to legal channels in the event of possible electoral dispute.  
The mission of La Francophonie reiterates the availability of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to support Chadian stakeholders in the implementation of the recommendations that it will formulate following the presidential election, with a view to strengthening peace and democracy in Chad, including in anticipation of the legislative elections.   
The mission thanks the authorities and the people of Chad for the welcome and hospitality extended to its delegation.  

The OIF has 88 states and governments: 54 members, 7 associate members and 27 observers.