Opposition Warns Constitutional Changes In Chad

Yisen Abdulay stated that democracy no longer exists in Chad. A spokesperson for the Les Patriotes party, a member of the G-CAP, expressed pessimism regarding the future of democracy in Chad. The spokesperson suggested that political parties will no longer have meaning in the current political climate. Opposition figures are calling for the Chadian head of state to release political opponents currently incarcerated for their opinions. They are requesting the government to allow for peaceful marches and to open up the political space for dialogue. The source noted that the locality of Isoma was also attacked, though the current status of such attacks is unclear. The speaker stated that Chad will not be considered a democratic country unless these changes occur. Opposition members in Chad warn that a new legislative text could violate Article 220 of the Constitution. Article 220 prohibits changes to the duration and number of presidential terms. Deputy Ngontankoy, the initiator of the text, stated that constitutional rigidity does not imply eternal provisions. He argued that no generation should bind future generations through its laws. The opposition maintains that term limits represent a red line for the country.