The recent statements from Chad’s head of state, attributing the nation’s governance failures to divine will and invoking divine fear to control the population, ring hollow against the backdrop of citizens’ daily struggles. While faith and spirituality remain cornerstones of Chadian resilience against an inhumane political regime, their instrumentalization to mask systemic governance, economic, and institutional failures is unacceptable. Governance, no matter how it is framed, cannot be justified by appeals to Allah when the evidence of mismanagement is undeniable.

Integrity and justice are sacred principles that must translate into political action through the absolute respect for the people’s will. Yet the May 2024 presidential election—a sham process—has shattered public trust irreparably. Legitimate grievances, disputed official figures, and independent observer reports have exposed a rigged system designed to entrench power. The violence that followed, in the name of celebrating a stolen victory, only deepened the wound.

Elections stripped of credibility

For appeals to divine truth to carry weight, they must be rooted in transparent 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 by polling station, the promise of democratic transition remains a hollow script.

The 2024 electoral charade has broken the social contract. The people demand nothing less than a complete overhaul of the electoral register and a recomposition of the electoral authority for future legislative elections. If the president truly values truth, these demands must be met.

State nepotism vs. republican fairness

Divine justice condemns favoritism, theft, and inequity—yet Chad’s current regime thrives on precisely these practices. A disturbing pattern has emerged: key state positions, financial institutions, and security forces are staffed not on merit but on regional, clan, or familial ties. Technical expertise is sacrificed at the altar of patronage. Young graduates, lacking influential connections, face unemployment, while critical administrative roles—where oil and customs revenues are managed—are doled out as personal favors to the president’s inner circle. This institutionalized injustice fuels frustration and threatens the nation’s stability.

Collapsing infrastructure: A managerial shipwreck

To frame daily hardships as divine tests is a cynical political maneuver. Chad faces a systemic collapse of essential services—not because of fate, but due to managerial incompetence.

The energy crisis in N’Djamena is no act of Allah. Electricity, once a basic right, has become a luxury. Recent fires at power plants have plunged hospitals and businesses into darkness, turning the search for reliable energy into a modern-day gold rush.

In Abéché, Sarh, and Moundou, water scarcity is not a divine decree but a man-made disaster. Chad sits atop vast underground reserves, yet access to clean water remains a daily struggle. Meanwhile, oil and gold revenues vanish into the pockets of a privileged few, leaving critical infrastructure projects unfunded. Can divine justice truly endorse such plunder of national wealth?

The people’s aspirations have evolved beyond moralizing rhetoric or empty promises. They demand credible institutions, functional public services, and inclusive governance. Only when the daily lives of Chadians improve measurably can the sincerity of their leaders be judged.