Chadian presidential election, 2006
Encyclopedia
A presidential election took place in Chad
on May 3, 2006. A 2005 constitutional referendum
made it possible for President Idriss Déby
to run for a third term; having come to power in December 1990, he previously won elections in 1996
and 2001
. Despite a serious rebellion based in the east of the country, the election was held on schedule; Déby was re-elected with about 65% of the vote, according to official results. The main opposition parties boycotted the election.
At the time of the 2006 election, the country faced increasing tensions with Sudan, high unemployment
, and a growing insurgency fueled by deserting members of the Chadian military and the United Front for Democratic Change
rebel group. Chadian journalist Koumbo Singa Gali Sy said the election would "be a non-event. It's Déby against Déby."
in which no major opposition candidate participated, because most political parties in Chad boycotted the election in response to Déby's decision to run for a third term. The only candidates were President Déby, Agriculture Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké
for the National Rally of Chadian Democrats, former Prime Minister Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye
for the National Rally for Development and Progress
, Mahamat Abdoulaye for the People's Movement for Democracy in Chad
, and Brahim Koulamallah
for the Renewed African Socialist Movement
party; the latter three were representatives of political parties allied with Déby's Patriotic Salvation Movement
party.
On March 25 opposition leader Lol Mahamat Choua said in a speech to about one thousand supporters at a rally in N'Djamena, "We staunchly reaffirm that we are not taking part and will not endorse this masquerade. The elections announced for 3 May will not take place. They must not take place. You must contribute actively toward this end." In a meeting in mid March between Chadian opposition leaders, Chadian Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji
, and United Nations
representatives, Ngarlejy Yorongar
, who ran against Déby in 1996 and 2001, but boycotted the 2006 election, presented an 18-point proposal that called for a six-month extension of Déby's presidency to reform the electoral process. "Déby has refused our proposal; that's why I am not participating in the upcoming election."
A local journalist said that for Déby "the game is up; he's going to fall. The main and most troublesome question is who is capable of taking his place?"
On May 3, 2006, although rebel groups did not disrupt voting as they had threatened to, voter turnout was "extremely low".
, some Western diplomats expressed astonishment regarding the AU approval. Opposition groups called on the world to ignore the vote, and accused France
, which maintains a military contingent in the country, of having backed Déby for its own interests. Dispute over voter turnout was acute, with the opposition maintaining a turnout of a mere 2 percent, while the chairman of the Chadian electoral commission estimated turnout at around 60 percent.
Initially it was announced by the national election commission that Déby had won 77.6% of the vote. Proclaiming the final results on May 28, the Constitutional Council revised this downward, declaring Déby the winner with 64.67% of the vote; it also placed turnout at 53.08%. Déby was sworn in for another term in office on August 8, 2006.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
on May 3, 2006. A 2005 constitutional referendum
Chadian constitutional referendum, 2005
On 6 June 2005 the Chadian voters were called to pronounce themselves through a referendum on the revision of the Constitution originally approved on 31 March 1996....
made it possible for President Idriss Déby
Idriss Déby
General Idriss Déby Itno is the President of Chad and the head of the Patriotic Salvation Movement. Déby is of the Bidyat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. He added "Itno" to his surname in January 2006.-Rise to power:...
to run for a third term; having come to power in December 1990, he previously won elections in 1996
Chadian presidential election, 1996
Presidential election were held in Chad on 2 June 1996, with a second round on 3 July. This was the first multiparty presidential election in the history of Chad since its independence. It occurred at the end of a long transitional process and was repeatedly delayed...
and 2001
Chadian presidential election, 2001
A presential election was held in Chad on May 20, 2001. President Idriss Déby stood as a candidate for a second term. He obtained the support of a former opponent, Lol Mahamat Choua, leader of the Rally for Democracy and Progress ....
. Despite a serious rebellion based in the east of the country, the election was held on schedule; Déby was re-elected with about 65% of the vote, according to official results. The main opposition parties boycotted the election.
At the time of the 2006 election, the country faced increasing tensions with Sudan, high unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, and a growing insurgency fueled by deserting members of the Chadian military and the United Front for Democratic Change
United Front for Democratic Change
The United Front for Democratic Change or Front uni pour le changement is a Chadian rebel alliance, made up of eight individual rebel groups, all with the goals of overthrowing the government of current Chadian President. It is now part of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development. UFDC...
rebel group. Chadian journalist Koumbo Singa Gali Sy said the election would "be a non-event. It's Déby against Déby."
Election arrangements
The deadline to register as a candidate in the election was March 24, 2006. There were about 5.8 million registered voters and nearly 12,000 polling stations.Boycott
The election was the first in the history of ChadHistory of Chad
Chad , officially the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country next to the Atlantic ocean in Central Africa. It borders Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
in which no major opposition candidate participated, because most political parties in Chad boycotted the election in response to Déby's decision to run for a third term. The only candidates were President Déby, Agriculture Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké
Albert Pahimi Padacké
Albert Pahimi Padacké is a politician in Chad. He is currently Minister of Posts, Information Technologies and Communications and leads a political party, the National Rally for Democracy in Chad ....
for the National Rally of Chadian Democrats, former Prime Minister Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye
Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye
Nouradine Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye is a Chadian politician and the head of the National Rally for Development and Progress political party. After serving as a minister in the government during the 1980s and early 1990s; he was Prime Minister of Chad from November 6, 1993 to April 8, 1995 and again...
for the National Rally for Development and Progress
National Rally for Development and Progress
The National Rally for Development and Progress is a political party in Chad, led by Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye. It was founded in early 1992, with Koumakoye as its President....
, Mahamat Abdoulaye for the People's Movement for Democracy in Chad
People's Movement for Democracy in Chad
The People's Movement for Democracy in Chad is a political party in Chad.In the parliamentary election held on 21 April 2002, the party won five out of 155 seats. In the May 2006 presidential election, its candidate, Mahamat Abdoulaye, won 7.07 % of the vote....
, and Brahim Koulamallah
Brahim Koulamallah
Brahim Ahmed Koulamallah is a Chadian politician. He was the candidate of the Renewed African Socialist Movement in the May 2006 presidential election, taking fifth place with 5.31% of the vote. In the government named on August 15, 2006, he was appointed Minister of Tourism Development...
for the Renewed African Socialist Movement
Renewed African Socialist Movement
The Renewed African Socialist Movement is a political party in Chad. It is considered a moderate opposition party allied with the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement , and it participates in the government as of 2007....
party; the latter three were representatives of political parties allied with Déby's Patriotic Salvation Movement
Patriotic Salvation Movement
The Patriotic Salvation Movement is the ruling political party in Chad.After Idriss Déby, an army commander who participated in an unsuccessful plot against President Hissène Habré in 1989, fled to Sudan, he and his supporters, known as the April 1 Movement, operated from Sudan with Libyan backing...
party.
On March 25 opposition leader Lol Mahamat Choua said in a speech to about one thousand supporters at a rally in N'Djamena, "We staunchly reaffirm that we are not taking part and will not endorse this masquerade. The elections announced for 3 May will not take place. They must not take place. You must contribute actively toward this end." In a meeting in mid March between Chadian opposition leaders, Chadian Prime Minister Pascal Yoadimnadji
Pascal Yoadimnadji
Pascal Yoadimnadji served as the Prime Minister of Chad from February 2005 to February 2007.-Biography:Yoadimnadji was born in Béboto in the Logone Oriental Region of southern Chad...
, and United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
representatives, Ngarlejy Yorongar
Ngarlejy Yorongar
Ngarlejy Koji Yorongar le Moinban is a Chadian politician. He is the Executive Federal Coordinator of the Federation, Action for the Republic , a radical opposition party, as well as a Deputy in the National Assembly of Chad and President of the Federation Parliamentary Group.-Early career:Before...
, who ran against Déby in 1996 and 2001, but boycotted the 2006 election, presented an 18-point proposal that called for a six-month extension of Déby's presidency to reform the electoral process. "Déby has refused our proposal; that's why I am not participating in the upcoming election."
A local journalist said that for Déby "the game is up; he's going to fall. The main and most troublesome question is who is capable of taking his place?"
On May 3, 2006, although rebel groups did not disrupt voting as they had threatened to, voter turnout was "extremely low".
Results
Although by May 5, the election and Déby's victory was given the support of the African UnionAfrican Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
, some Western diplomats expressed astonishment regarding the AU approval. Opposition groups called on the world to ignore the vote, and accused France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, which maintains a military contingent in the country, of having backed Déby for its own interests. Dispute over voter turnout was acute, with the opposition maintaining a turnout of a mere 2 percent, while the chairman of the Chadian electoral commission estimated turnout at around 60 percent.
Initially it was announced by the national election commission that Déby had won 77.6% of the vote. Proclaiming the final results on May 28, the Constitutional Council revised this downward, declaring Déby the winner with 64.67% of the vote; it also placed turnout at 53.08%. Déby was sworn in for another term in office on August 8, 2006.
See also
- Elections in ChadElections in ChadElections in Chad gives information on election and election results in Chad.Chad elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
- 2005 Chad constitutional referendum
- Government of ChadGovernment of ChadThe Government of Chad has been ruled and controlled by Idriss Déby and his Patriotic Salvation Movement since December 2, 1990, and officially since February 28, 1991. An amendment to the Constitution of Chad, passed in 2005, allowed Déby to run for his next term which will be his third...
- 2006 Chadian coup d'état attempt2006 Chadian coup d'état attemptThe 2006 Chadian coup d'état attempt was an attempted coup d'état against Chadian President Idriss Déby that was foiled on the night of March 14, 2006.-Plot:...
- Chadian-Sudanese conflictChadian-Sudanese conflictThe civil war in Chad began in December 2005. Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad has been swamped by the civil war between the Arab-Muslims of the north and the Sub-Saharan-Christians of the south. As a result, leadership and presidency in Chad drifted back and forth between the...
External links
- L'actualité du Tchad (in French)