Chadian civil society boycotts Electoral Commission, plans April 5 peace march

In Chad, representatives of civil society have withdrawn from various institutions, including the Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). They also announced plans to hold a ‘‘peace march’‘ on April 5 despite a ban. H4>

The political atmosphere in Chad has become tense following the decision of the civil society.

Aside the Electoral Commission, they are pulling out of the National Policy Dialogue Framework (CNDP), the Economic and Social Council, the Oil Revenue Monitoring College and Transparency Initiative Extractive Industries (Itie).

#Chad Civil society pulls out of electoral commission a few days before presidential election. #Tchad ChadCeleste https://t.co/b9XwZ4MSiH

— John Gaynard (jfitzgaynard) April 1, 2016

Speaking to the press, a representative of Unions of Chad (UST) said on behalf of the civil society platform that “taking into account all that is happening and the detention of our comrades in prison, we have decided, starting today, the withdrawal of all our comrades in several institutions, including the CENI.”

Indeed, just days before the presidential election slated for April 10, four opposition leaders, including the General Secretary of the UST are still being held in Chadian prisons for 10 days.

Their trial began this on March 31, but eventually postponed to April 7 after a 20 minutes break.

Meanwhile the government has criticized these activists and their involvement in a protest against the candidacy of President Idriss Deby, who has been in power for 25 years and who is seeking re-election for president on 10 April.

The platform of civil society including the UST’s spokesman, has announced the effective holding, despite the ban of the Ministry of Security, a peaceful march on April 5.

“We say that the march of April 5 is maintained. We wrote to the Minister of Security to request the route to follow but the minister refused. Despite this decision we will walk and will ensure that this operation succeeds,” he reiterated.