The Special Envoy to Tchad of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe has urged Chadians to be peaceful as they vote in the presidential election.
In a statement personally signed by Mr Kingibe on Sunday, the special envoy said, “On the eve of the historic Presidential election in Tchad, congratulate the Transitional Authorities in Chad, the Chadian people and all friends of Chad for the journey so far towards the return of the country to a democratic constitutional order through peaceful elections.
“As the Special Envoy to Tchad of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), and, as mandated by the Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the LCBC, I and my team have, since May 2021, closely followed and accompanied the Tchadian people and the Government in their Transition process. Throughout this journey, the Chadian people and the Transitional Authorities exhibited great patriotism, mutual tolerance, and the necessary spirit of compromise in order to change the Tchadian narratives and now commit to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous democratic country.
“The Transition process had not been easy or without often heated contentions. However, the Tchadians confronted all the challenges, weathered all the political and security storms and are now on the cusp of the final lap.
“Therefore, I call on all the Presidential candidates, the Political Parties and leaders, and the general public to maintain the relative peace and good order demonstrated during the campaigns, continue to remain calm, and after the voting, patiently await the announcement of the outcome of the elections by the ANGE, the body legally authorized to announce the results. I further urge that any challenges, complaints or grievances that may arise are taken up peacefully for settlement through the constituted electoral guidelines and laws, or if necessary, the judicial processes. The alternative is to risk the tremendous progress and the fruits of the great sacrifices already made by all parties.”
The Chadian security personnel cast and nomads began casting their votes on Sunday ahead of the country’s presidential election slated for Monday.
Chadians out of the country are also voting on Sunday, according National Elections Management Agency (ANGE) of Chad.
The voting began at 6 a.m. local time when soldiers and policemen lined up to cast their ballots at polling centers in the Chadian capital of N’Djamena and several other cities.
Army chief of staff Abakar Abdelkerim Daoud opened the vote at polling station number 8 in N’Djamena.
The Polls will close at 5:00 p.m. local time in the country.
A total of 10 candidates are vying for the country’s top job. Prominent among them are Chad’s transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and his Prime Minister Succes Masra.
The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for May 6, with a possible second round on June 22.
The political and military situation in Chad has deteriorated since 2021 following the death of former President Idriss Deby Itno, the father of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, in April 2021.
Authorities have said the presidential election is a “significant step” for a return to constitutional order in the Central African country.
