Paris, N’djamena, 15th May 2024 - On 9th May, The National Elections Management Agency (ANGE) surprised the observers by proceeding earlier than expected to the formal announcement of the provisional results of the presidential election of 6th May 2024.
Pending the decision of the Constitutional Council, the only institution capable of providing definitive results, this proclamation has been followed by violence and violations of fundamental freedoms. On the evening of the publication, during the celebration of the supporters of General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, candidate of the Union Chad Coalition, and President of the Transition, shots were heard in several cities of Chad and in Kousseri, a city located in Cameroon. According to local sources, a dozen people have been killed and dozens injured.
"The Chadian justice system must immediately open an investigation into these incidents, in order to identify and prosecute those responsible whatever their positions. Victims and their family should not know any pressure in their seek of justice", declared Agnes Ildijma Lokiam, president of the ATPDH.
The press prevented from approaching the victims
In order to conceal the extent of the damages caused by the shots, Chadian sanitarian authorities forbade the access to the victims. In a circular form the health ministry, on the 10th May, it has been forbade to the managers of health infrastructures to: "…provide to anyone the statistics on the number of injuries and deaths related to the joy shots…". The press has been also forbade "to interview injured or to take photography of them". Union of Chadian Journalists has protested the same day against this obstruction in the work of journalist.
"It is unacceptable that civil society and the press are prevented from having access to the victims and from informing public opinion. The right to information and the right to inform are part of the constitutional rights recognised to Chadian people by the constitution", declared Me Adoum Mahamat Boukar, LTDH president.
The rapid publication of the results, contrary to previous practice and the realities on the ground, has also led to controversy about their credibility despite of the justifications provided by the ANGE. Some of the candidates have contested the results, including the opponent Succès Masra, candidate of the party Les Transformateurs, who came second with 18.53%, just behind Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who was elected with 61.03%.
At least, 76 supporters of the candidate of the party Les Transformateurs were arrested by police forces on the 6th May and the following day in polling stations and during the counts. They are being held in the Klessoum prison. They would be accused of "taking photographs of the minutes of the proceedings" of the polling stations and for "taking false badges and missions orders" of the observers.
Violations human rights and non-respect of fundamental freedoms of members of the opposition have been reported. The 6th May, the evening of the election, Succès Masra’s residence has been surrounded and police drones flew over it. It should be under house arrest since the 9th May, while its home is circled by police forces. On the 12th May, he took the matter to the Constitutional Council.
"We are worried. These events take place less than three months after the death of the opponent Yaya Dillo, following a police raid on the headquarters of his political party. These events could be seen as warning signs of new political violence. The attacks on the opponents must stop in order to give to the democracy and peace chance in Chad", declared Me Drissa Traore, Secretary General of the FIDH
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This violence reach its paroxysm on 10th May with the beating up of students of University of Toukra, after spelling out the name of Succès Masra. FIDH, and its member organisations in Chad were alarmed on the eventuality of post-electoral violence and human rights violations. They reiterated their call on the Chadian authorities to respect human rights by putting an end to the harassment of opponents and defenders.