Chad holds referendum on new constitution amid opposition protests

For the voters, the referendum marks a long-awaited return to civilian rule since the April 2021 military takeover.

Chadians have started voting on a new constitution as a stepping stone to next year’s election that aims to mend political and community division in the oil-producing, yet impoverished and fragmented country.

For the 8 million registered voters, Sunday’s referendum marks a long-awaited return to civilian rule since the April 2021 military takeover after the previous president Idriss Deby was killed by rebels.

But the opposition wants more autonomy and says the vote is just a farce for the military leadership to hold on to power.

The army had suspended the constitution after the death of President Idriss Deby and dissolved the parliament. Deby’s son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, was then installed by the military as interim president at the helm of a Transitional Military Council (TMC).

Chad has had little stability since its independence in 1960.