Chad: Parliamentary elections postponed February 3

Event

Chad’s president, Idryss Déby, announced on Friday, February 3, that parliamentary elections will be postponed. President Déby claimed that the country does not have enough funds to hold the elections due to falling in oil prices. The elections were initially scheduled for 2015 but have experienced multiple delays.

Context

Chad is facing economic difficulties as a result of a drop in global oil prices, while actively fighting the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

President Déby has been in power since 1990. In April 2016, he won the presidential elections with 60 percent of the votes, a result disputed by the opposition.

Advice

Due to the high terrorist threat, individuals in the country are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities and to remain vigilant at all times, especially when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). For these and other security reasons, many Western governments advise against all travel to areas near the borders with Niger, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Nigeria, and the Lake Chad region, as well as nonessential travel to the rest of the country, including N'Djamena.