Chad Approves New Constitution Backed by Military Council

Chadians have approved a new constitution, which its critics say could help strengthen the authority of military council leader Mahamat Idriss Déby. The government committee organized to oversee the voting stated on Sunday that the referendum held this month was approved by 86 percent of voters, with a participation rate of about 64 percent. The military authorities in Chad described the vote as a vital starting point for elections next year, marking a long-awaited return to democratic governance after the military took power in 2021 when former President Idriss Déby was killed in battle during a clash with rebels. The new constitution will maintain the unity of the state in Chad, while some opponents of the referendum have called for the establishment of a federal state, arguing it would help support development. Opposition groups called for a boycott of the vote, claiming the military council has strong control over the referendum process. Déby initially promised an 18-month transition period for elections following his father's death, but the government adopted decisions last year that postponed the elections until 2024 and will allow him to run for president in the elections.