Tchad: when public mismanagement defies divine justice

Recent statements by the Head of State, who attributes the government’s failures to Allah and urges citizens to fear divine judgment, ring hollow against the backdrop of widespread suffering endured by the people.

In Chad, faith and spirituality have long been pillars of resilience for its citizens in the face of an unjust political system. Yet when these sacred values are exploited to conceal systemic governance failures, economic mismanagement, and institutional decay, it becomes essential to remind leaders that governance is not a divine mandate. A pattern of religious rhetoric cannot mask years of disastrous leadership.

The principles of sincerity and justice lie at the heart of all faiths. In politics, they must manifest through unwavering respect for the will of the people. However, the 2024 presidential election—a sham process—has shattered public trust. Legitimate protests, disputed official results, and independent observer reports have exposed a rigged system designed to entrench power. This was followed by violence in the streets, where lives were lost defending what was clearly a stolen victory.

For appeals to divine truth to carry any weight, they must be paired 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 democracy will remain a hollow script.

The 2024 electoral charade has broken trust irreparably. The people demand a complete overhaul of the voter registry and a restructuring of the electoral commission ahead of future legislative elections. If the Head of State truly values truth, these reforms must be implemented without delay.

State nepotism vs. republican fairness

The fear of divine law condemns favoritism, theft, and injustice. Yet the current regime thrives on an alarming concentration of state appointments in financial agencies, security forces, and high-level positions, all based on nepotism rather than merit. Technical expertise is routinely sacrificed for regional, clan, or family ties. The republican ideal of meritocracy lies in tatters. Young graduates with no political connections face unemployment, while lucrative positions—where oil and customs revenues are managed—are doled out as patronage to the President’s inner circle. This systemic injustice fuels resentment and threatens the nation’s stability.

Collapsing infrastructure: a managerial disaster

To frame the country’s daily hardships as divine trials is a cynical misuse of faith. Chad’s collapse in essential services is not an act of God but the result of managerial incompetence.

The energy crisis in N’Djamena has reached desperate levels. Electricity, once scarce, is now a luxury. A recent fire at a major power plant has plunged neighborhoods into darkness, crippling hospitals and businesses alike. The water shortage in Abéché, Sarh, and Moundou cannot be blamed on divine will—Chad possesses vast natural water reserves. Yet access to clean drinking water remains a daily struggle because incompetence, not fate, governs.

Oil and gold revenues, instead of funding critical infrastructure, are diverted to enrich a privileged few. Is this how the nation’s wealth is to be honored in the eyes of Allah?

The people’s aspirations extend far beyond moral platitudes or empty promises. They demand credible institutions, functional public services, and inclusive governance. The sincerity of leadership can only be measured by tangible, positive change in the lives of ordinary citizens.