Chad announced the results of its first legislative, municipal, and regional elections in over a decade on Sunday, 12 January. 

Provisional results show the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement, led by President Mahamat Idriss Deby, won 124 of 188 seats in the National Assembly, with a voter turnout of 51.56%.

This election – which took place on 29 December, 2024 – marked the completion of Chad’s transition to constitutional rule, following Deby’s rise to power in 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno.

The opposition, including Succes Masra’s Transformateurs party, boycotted the vote, alleging a lack of transparency. The government dismissed these claims. President Deby described the election as a step toward decentralisation, aiming to shift power from the national government to local administrations to improve governance and meet public demands.

Chad’s foreign policy has also shifted, ending its defence cooperation with France and hinting at a withdrawal from a regional security force. These moves mirror actions by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have severed ties with France while strengthening relations with Russia.

Domestically, Chad continues to face significant challenges, including Islamic militancy and political discontent. Recently, security forces foiled a “destabilisation attempt” targeting the presidency, underscoring ongoing tensions in the nation’s governance transition.

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