The recent remarks from the Head of State, attributing the nation’s woes to divine will and invoking divine fear to control the population, strike a discordant note amid the daily hardships endured by citizens. In Chad, faith and spirituality serve as pillars of resilience for its people, but when these values are weaponized to conceal systemic failures in governance, the economy, and institutions, it becomes essential for any thoughtful individual to remind those in power that governance is not divinely ordained.
A regime that cloaks its mismanagement in religious rhetoric cannot hide the stark reality of its disastrous record. Sincerity and justice are sacred principles that must translate into political action through absolute respect for the people’s will. Yet the May 2024 presidential election was a sham that shattered public trust. Legitimate grievances, disputed official figures, and independent observer reports exposed a rigged process designed to entrench power—costing lives in the process amid celebrations of a stolen victory.
The path to restoring faith in divine justice must begin with absolute transparency in electoral processes. The upcoming legislative and local elections will serve as a critical test. Without a complete overhaul of the electoral body and the publication of results polling station by polling station, the promise of democratic transition will remain a hollow illusion.
Election fraud: the death of democratic trust
The 2024 electoral farce marked a definitive rupture in trust. Citizens demand nothing less than a complete overhaul of the electoral register and a restructuring of the National Electoral Management Agency (ANGE) for future legislative elections—if the Head of State truly values truth.
State nepotism: the death of republican fairness
Divine law condemns favoritism and inequity, yet the current regime thrives on the shameless concentration of appointments within state institutions, financial agencies, and security forces. Technical competence is sacrificed on the altar of regional, clan, or familial loyalty. Republican merit is trampled underfoot. Young graduates without influential connections face unemployment, while key administrative positions—where oil and customs revenues are managed—are doled out as patronage to the President’s inner circle. This systemic injustice fuels frustration and threatens the nation’s stability.
Collapsing infrastructure: the failure of management
To frame everyday suffering as a spiritual trial is a cynical misuse of faith. Chad’s crumbling public services are not divine tests; they are the direct result of managerial incompetence.
The energy crisis in N’Djamena is no act of God. Access to electricity has become a luxury, with blackouts crippling hospitals and businesses. The recent fire at the main power plant only deepened the crisis.
In Abéché, Sarh, and Moundou, water scarcity is not a trial sent by Allah—if indeed He placed Chad on earth, He also provided abundant water reserves. Yet potable water remains a daily struggle for households because those in charge are incompetent.
Oil and gold revenues are plundered to enrich a select few while critical infrastructure investments are neglected. Could divine justice possibly endorse such theft of national wealth?
The aspirations of the people extend beyond moral platitudes and empty promises. They demand credible institutions, functional public services, and inclusive governance. Only through tangible, measurable improvements in the daily lives of Chadians can the sincerity of leaders be judged.