Chad’s ruling party secures majority in parliamentary elections

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Chad’s ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) secured a dominant majority in the country’s parliamentary elections, winning 124 out of 188 seats, according to provisional results announced Sunday by the national electoral commission.

The December 29 vote was the first parliamentary election in over a decade, with voter turnout reported at 51.5%.

The election was marked by a boycott from several opposition parties, including Succes Masra's Transformers party, which dismissed the process as a "charade" and raised concerns about its transparency and fairness.

President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who took power after his father’s death in 2021 and was elected in May 2024, described the election as a step toward decentralization and empowering local governance.

The absence of key opposition groups left the MPS largely uncontested in critical regions, consolidating its dominance in the legislature.

Chad faces persistent challenges, including threats from extremist groups in the Lake Chad region and economic pressures exacerbated by regional instability.