afrol News, 3 May - Chadian voters have been asked to choose a new president or to re-elect President Idriss Deby for a third term today, but few are casting their ballot. In the capital, N'djamena, most citizens have left the city out of fear of new armed attacks. The main opposition has called for a boycott, expecting the poll to be unfair.
For several days, there have been reports of rising tensions and preparations for armed attacks in Chad. The many rebel troops that want to topple President Deby and attacked N'djamena in mid-April have warned against the holding of the election.
N'djamena resident widely expected a new rebel attack on the capital to take place today, during the controversial polls. Since the weekend, thousands have crossed River Chari, into the Cameroonian neighbour town Kousseri. The last attack on the capital caused more than 300 civilian deaths and a war over N'djamena would be even more bloody. So far, however, there have been no reports of armed violence in Chad today.
Also the Chadian opposition is strongly against the holding of today's elections. A total of 20 opposition parties has urged for "dialogue before elections", but were not heard by President Deby. Consequently, the opposition coalition decided to boycott the poll, leaving Mr Deby as the only known candidate.
The opposition already voiced its protests as President Deby's ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) pushed through an amendment to the constitution in 2004, allowing the Head of State to stand candidate for an unlimited number of five-year presidential terms. The referendum in favour of the amendment was denounced as unfair and rigged.
Since this amendment, which made it clear that Mr Deby had long-term ambitions in the Chadian presidency, the main opposition has demanded political reforms to assure free, fair and transparent elections. Calls for a national dialogue to reform the election law and electorate bodies have been turned down by President Deby. The result has become an ample poll boycott by the opposition.
Several of the new rebel groups also refer to the incumbent's lack of democratic spirit when explaining why they want to topple the regime. While the anti-Deby rebel groups are accused of being financed and trained by neighbouring Sudan, several are led by President Deby's recent allies, claiming they want real democracy in the impoverished oil exporting country.
Today's polls, which are strongly criticised by both the legal opposition and rebel groups, therefore will do little to stabilise the situation in Chad, let alone legitimising President Deby's third term at the presidency. Reports from polling stations in N'djamena indicate that only a very small percentage of voters have been willing to cast their ballots today.
President Deby so far has been able to hold on to power due to foreign assistance. A French military presence of 1,200 soldiers and modern military equipment was key to the ousting of rebels from N'djamena in April. The Chadian ruler is however tiring his foreign supporters with his unwillingness to talk to the opposition.
Both the African Union and the European Union had urged President Deby to postpone the elections to assure that a dialogue could take place with the opposition and rebels. The Chadian President however stuck to his "promise to the people" of organising the polls on schedule. In a few days, the electoral commission will announce his third outright victory.
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