Chad will become the first of Africa’s current junta-led states to transition to democratic rule with Monday’s presidential elections.
It will end a three-year transition imposed after the sudden death of long-serving leader Idriss Deby Itno during the battle against the rebels.
But with his son and successor General Mahamat Déby one of the favorites to win, there is some skepticism about whether this will bring about change.
Prime Minister Succès Masra is among his nine challengers and is seen as his biggest rival.
Ten other politicians hoping to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, were barred by the Constitutional Council due to “irregularities.” For example, Mr. Koursami was accused of forgery.
But some have argued that the decision to exclude certain people was politically motivated.
Another potential opponent, Yaya Dillo, was killed by security forces in February while allegedly leading an attack on the National Security Agency in the capital N’Djamena.
Activists have called for a boycott of the election, which they called a ploy to give the Deby dynasty a sheen of democratic legitimacy.
Many are still in exile following the deadly crackdown on opponents after the protests in October 2022.
Nevertheless, Chad’s election is a milestone for countries in West and Central Africa that have fallen under military rule since a wave of coups began in 2020.
It could serve as a template for juntas seeking to maintain political influence after first coming to power illegitimately.
The oil-exporting country with almost 18 million inhabitants has not seen a free and fair transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960.
Idriss Déby overthrew Hissène Habré in 1990 and remained in charge for the next three decades until his death on the battlefield in April 2021 at the age of 68.
His son, now 40, took over in what opponents described as a constitutional coup, initially pledging to stay as interim leader for just 18 months, a period that was later extended. He also said he would not run for president.
General Déby has tried to allay concerns that he is part of a dynasty.
“If elected, I will serve my five-year term and at the end of my term it will be up to the people to judge me. As for a dynasty, our constitution is very clear: a candidate cannot serve more than two consecutive terms,” he told France 24 television.
Masra, also 40, was appointed prime minister by General Déby in January after a deal was reached to repair the political rifts caused by the October 2022 protests.
The economist has been accused by some of betraying the opposition, but he has dismissed rumors of a secret post-election power-sharing deal with General Déby.
He has urged Chadians to vote for him to end six decades of “obscurity” and “darkness.”
People are desperate for change in Chad, says the BBC’s Paul Njie in N’Djamena.
But when it comes to the mood, there is a mixture of hope and despair, he adds.
Hope that this vote, whoever wins, could usher in a new era of young leadership in the country, but despair as life has become harder for many in the country over the past thirty years.
Additional reporting by BBC Monitoring.
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