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Chad: Interim president Deby declared winner of disputed election

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The state electoral commission of Chad has announced that interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby has secured an absolute victory in the presidential election held on May 6, receiving more than 61% of the votes according to provisional figures. This declaration was made despite the main opposition candidate claiming victory for himself.

Chad’s military regime has successfully transitioned back to constitutional governance through democratic elections, making it the first country in West and Central Africa affected by a coup to do so. However, certain opposition parties have expressed dissatisfaction with regards to worries of electoral manipulation.

In anticipation of the results announcement, a significant number of security troops have been stationed at prominent crossroads in the capital city of N’Djamena, due to the prevailing high tensions.

Ahmed Bartichet, the head of the National Election Management Agency, announced that Deby had obtained 61.3% of the vote, surpassing the required 50% threshold to avoid a second round of voting.

According to him, Succes Masra, both Deby’s prime minister and the main opposition candidate, won 18.53% of the votes.

Before the event, Masra declared triumph during a live transmission on Facebook and urged security personnel and his followers to resist what he referred to as an endeavour to obtain the votes fraudulently.

“A small number of individuals believe they can make people believe that the election was won by the same system that has been ruling Chad for decades,” he said.

“To all Chadians who voted for change, who voted for me, I say: mobilise. Do it calmly, with a spirit of peace,” he said.
The contested outcomes conclude a tense campaign season characterized by the assassination of opposition leader Yaya Dillo, the exclusion of important opposition members from the list of candidates, and other concerns that critics argue have undermined the integrity of the process.

Although Masra attracted larger-than-anticipated audiences during the campaign, observers had largely foreseen that the winner would be Deby. Deby assumed control after rebels assassinated his father, Idriss Deby, who had ruled for a long time, in April 2021.

“Post-election protests are possible, though the threat of police repression could dissuade many people from taking to the streets,” Crisis Group experts said ahead of the vote.

Foreign observers are keenly monitoring the election. While neighbouring countries in the insurgency-ravaged Sahel area, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, have requested the withdrawal of Paris and other Western powers and sought backing from Moscow, Chad is the only Sahel state that still has a significant French military presence.

Security and the economy have been important topics throughout the campaign. Chad, a country with limited development, has faced additional challenges due to many factors such as heatwaves caused by climate change and a refugee problem resulting from the civil conflict in Sudan.

Politics

Botswana’s new president wants swift resolution of De Beers diamond deal

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Duma Boko, the recently elected president of Botswana, stated on Friday that he hoped to wrap up negotiations for a new sales agreement with the multinational diamond mining conglomerate, De Beers, as quickly as possible.

“The relationship with De Beers could have been damaged by the way the negotiations were handled,” President Boko said in a televised statement from Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. “The first thing that needs to be done is to engage the other party”.

 

The government’s portion of diamonds from the Debswana joint venture will progressively rise to 50% over the following ten years, according to a new diamond sales agreement reached last year by De Beers, a division of Anglo American.

Currently, De Beers purchases 75% of the production from Debswana Diamond Company, which is jointly controlled by Botswana and De Beers.

The agreement has not yet been signed, even though the Botswana government and the departing president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, praised its benefits Beers was “thinking about walking away, not signing at all… (a) very dangerous position to be in as a country,” according to Boko.

According to Boko, his new government wishes to communicate with De Beers to comprehend its issues.

“A proper negotiation involves compromise, where you get a bit of what you wanted, the other person gets a bit,” Boko said. “Then…you have a durable, sustainable agreement.”

As part of a larger reorganisation of its extensive operations, Anglo is developing a strategy to sell out De Beers. In July, Masisi stated that the Botswana government might increase its 15% stake in De Beers.A decline in worldwide demand has severely impacted diamond prices, just like it has for other luxury items. De Beers has been providing contracted clients with flexibility and limiting supply.

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President Maisi concedes as Botswana’s ruling party loses 58-year reign

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Following preliminary results showing his party lost its legislative majority by a landslide in this week’s election, Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, announced his party’s defeat on Friday, ending nearly 60 years in power.

The opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), held a sizable lead with over half of the constituencies reporting, placing its leader, attorney Duma Boko, in a strong position to win the presidency.

According to analysts, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has controlled the small southern African nation since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, was overthrown by growing socioeconomic dissatisfaction, especially among young people.

Botswana has always relied heavily on its diamond industry for revenue, but this year’s economic growth was severely hampered by a decline in the world diamond market, and unemployment increased to 28%.

According to results from 41 of the 61 constituencies up for election, the UDC had gained 26 seats in parliament, while the BDP had only three, according to state television. The president is chosen by the members of parliament.

Boko, who hasn’t made any public statements since the outcome, ran on a platform of increasing social grants and the minimum wage.

“Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration,” Masisi said at a press conference.

Small groups of supporters of the opposition celebrated in the streets of Gaborone, the capital, on Friday morning, which was peaceful.

“I did not ever think I would witness this change in my life,” said 23-year-old student Mpho Mogorosi. “The BDP had stayed too long in power and I am proud to be part of the people that removed them for a better Botswana.”

After South Africa’s African National Congress lost its legislative majority after 30 years in power and was compelled to form a coalition government, the BDP became the second long-ruling party in southern Africa to lose at the polls this year.

Later this month, elections will be held in neighbouring Namibia, where the SWAPO party, which has ruled since 1990, is anticipated to face fierce opposition.

“The outcome of Botswana’s elections should serve as a warning to long-time ruling parties across southern Africa and beyond that without economic progress and employment opportunities, political dominance will falter,” said Zaynab Hoosen, an Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk.

 

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