OMCT - World Organisation Against Torture
OMCT - World Organisation Against Torture
05/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2024 06:25
Chad: on the eve of the presidential elections, human rights remain a priority
On the eve of the presidential elections in Chad, the Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme (LTDH), the Association Jeunesse pour la Paix et la Non-violence (AJPNV) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) invite the Chadian population to choose a candidate who will respect fundamental rights and freedoms and put an end to the widespread practice of torture in the country.
Despite serious concerns about the transparency and sincerity of this election, our organisations call on the national agency monitoring the elections (ANGE) and the Constitutional Court to take all measures to dispel mistrust between the various actors and guarantee the serenity of the electoral process.
During the final days of the election campaign, our groups documented speeches of suspicion between the various candidates and their supporters, leading to fears of protests and disruptions. Obstacles to freedom of expression were observed. Several private and independent media outlets were prevented from covering the election campaign, and two media, Al-Idath and Le Libérateur, were suspended.
These events raise fears of possible human rights violations and abuses during and after the elections.
The elections will end three years of transition marked by violence and serious human rights violations, with more than 250 people killed, hundreds injured and arrested during the peaceful demonstrations in October 2022. A few days before the start of the electoral process, the president of the Socialist Party without Borders (PSF), Yaya Dillo, was assassinated by the security forces, and dozens of his party's leaders are still in detention. To date, no investigation has shed light on the circumstances of this assassination and the perpetrators have not been identified or prosecuted.
These elections represent a unique opportunity for Chad to open a new democratic chapter through a historic change at the head of state institutions for some 35 years.
The political authorities frequently cut off the internet at each electoral consultation. It is crucial that the Chadian authorities responsible for organising the elections and announcing the results ensure that freedom of expression and internet access are respected during these elections.
These elections represent a unique opportunity for Chad to open a new democratic and peaceful chapter through the first alternation at the head of state institutions for some 35 years. It is essential that they take place in a peaceful atmosphere and that the newly elected authorities place human rights at the heart of the democratic reforms of their mandate.
The aim is to guarantee an end to impunity and access to justice, reparation, and rehabilitation for all the victims of the violence committed in recent years.