In a recent address, Chad’s head of state attributed the nation’s governance failures to divine will, urging citizens to fear Allah as a means of controlling public discontent. Yet these words ring hollow against the daily hardships endured by ordinary citizens. While faith remains a cornerstone of resilience for many in Chad, its invocation to justify systemic governance, economic mismanagement, and institutional decay is both misguided and unacceptable.
True spirituality demands honesty and justice—principles that must translate into transparent leadership and respect for the people’s will. However, the May 2024 presidential election exposed a broken system. Disputed official results, independent observer reports, and the tragic loss of lives following a stolen victory shattered public trust. The electoral process was engineered to entrench power rather than reflect the will of the people.
For appeals to divine justice to carry weight, they must be backed by concrete electoral reforms. The upcoming legislative and local elections will serve as litmus tests. Without a complete overhaul of the electoral body and the publication of results polling station by polling station, the promise of democracy will remain a hollow illusion.
State nepotism vs. republican fairness
Divine law condemns favoritism, corruption, and inequality. Yet Chad’s current regime thrives on the opposite—an alarming concentration of state appointments in financial institutions, security forces, and key administrative roles, all based on nepotism rather than merit. The result? Technical expertise is sidelined, young graduates face unemployment, and the nation’s oil and customs revenues are treated as personal assets for the president’s inner circle. This systemic injustice fuels social unrest and undermines national stability.
Collapsing infrastructure: a man-made disaster
The claim that hardships are divine tests ignores reality. Chad’s crumbling infrastructure is the direct result of managerial incompetence, not fate.
In N’Djamena, electricity—a basic necessity—has become a luxury after a major power plant fire left neighborhoods in darkness. Hospitals and businesses reel under forced blackouts, disrupting lives and livelihoods.
In Abéché, Sarh, and Moundou, access to clean water remains a daily struggle, despite the country’s abundant natural reserves. Meanwhile, oil and gold revenues vanish into private pockets, leaving critical infrastructure projects unfunded. Can divine justice truly condone such plundering of national wealth?
Chadians no longer seek empty moral platitudes or unfulfilled promises. They demand credible institutions, functional public services, and inclusive governance. The sincerity of leadership will be measured not by sermons, but by tangible improvements in their daily lives.
