In Chad, campaigns for 17 December constitutional referendum begin

Chad beg[an] campaigning on [25 November] for a vote on a new constitution, in a perceived test of legitimacy for the ruling junta and the Itno dynasty's 30-year reign. Transitional President General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, whose junta has governed since 2021, had promised to hand power to civilians and hold elections this year before postponing them to 2024. More than 8.3 million people in the Sahel country are called on to vote in a referendum slated for December 17, in a key step towards the elections and establishing civilian rule. The opposition, NGOs and political scientists say the ballot looks set to be about maintaining Itno and his family's "dynasty" after the three decades of absolute power enjoyed by his father Idriss Deby Itno. "Beyond what form the state takes, the main issue is to allow power to test its popularity and its legitimacy, which will be determined by the turnout rate," Issa Job, professor of law at the University of N'Djamena, told AFP. [...] The new proposed constitution is not greatly different from the previous one, which concentrated significant powers in the hands of the head of state. The pro-junta "Yes" camp supports a unitary state, while opponents back a federal model.
Read the full article here: TRT Afrika