The Chadian opposition is threatening to organize protests in response to a new organic law on parliament’s composition and compensation for parliamentarians, which was signed into law on August 16.
The opposition is also voicing strong objections to a July 4 ordinance that restructures the country’s administrative units, increasing the number of departments from 95 to 120, sub-prefectures from 422 to 454, and communes from 365 to 500.
They argue that these changes are designed to favor certain regions for electoral gain.
The new law sets the future parliament at 188 MPs and 69 senators. Despite opposition protests, the law was adopted and signed by President Mahamat Idriss Deby. Opposition parties, such as the Union for the Refoundation of Chad (URT) and Les Transformateurs, have called the law unfair and are demanding changes.
The Political Actors Consultation Group (GCAP) is calling for demonstrations and a boycott of the upcoming elections in response to the government’s actions.
However, the government has announced its intention to proceed with the new administrative divisions and the elections scheduled for November to December 2024.
Report by Fatimah Ibrahim