Chad’s Ruling Party Dominates First Senate Election Results

Chad’s ruling MPS party won 45 of the 46 available Senate seats, strengthening President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s rule. The election faced contestation from the opposition concerning alleged voting irregularities. Deby’s administration is also redefining its military alliances, moving away from France amidst a rising wave of anti-French sentiment in the region.

In its first Senate election, Chad’s ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party secured 45 out of 46 contested seats, according to provisional results. This election reinforces President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s authority, who ascended to power in 2021 after the passing of his father, Idriss Deby Itno. Notably, Deby had previously attained 61% of the presidential vote amid allegations of electoral misconduct by opposition candidates.

The recent legislative election, which saw a boycott from numerous opposition groups, allowed the MPS to secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly. In the Senate elections, the MPS retained dominance, only conceding one seat to the National Rally of Chadian Democrats (RNDT) party, headed by former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke, who is now the sole opposition senator.

Padacke has publicly contested the vote results, alleging irregularities in ballot counts from Moundou, Chad’s second-largest city. In addition to the 46 indirectly elected senators, President Deby will appoint 23 senators, all serving renewable six-year terms. Deby’s administration, a crucial ally for the West against Islamic extremism in the Sahel, has recently altered its defense relations with France, mirroring actions taken by other regional nations.

These recent shifts involve ending military collaborations with France and signaling a potential withdrawal from an international security force assisting Lake Chad nations. The President’s maneuvering aligns with a broader trend of nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have expelled French troops while gravitating towards Russia following successive coups in West and Central Africa.

Chad’s ruling party, the MPS, dominated the first Senate election by capturing 45 of 46 seats, reinforcing President Deby’s control. Despite securing a majority in both the Senate and National Assembly, opposition parties raise concerns over electoral irregularities. The changes in Chad’s defense alliances indicate a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Sahel region, drawing parallels with movements in neighboring countries.

Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za