Chad's Junta-led Government Initiates Crucial December Referendum Campaign

Chad has begun campaigning for a vote on a new constitution, which is seen as a test of legitimacy for the ruling junta and the Itno dynasty's 30-year reign. The proposed constitution is not significantly different from the previous one, concentrating power in the hands of the head of state. The opposition, NGOs, and political scientists argue that the referendum is about maintaining the Itno family's "dynasty" after three decades of absolute power. The pro-junta "Yes" camp supports a unitary state, while opponents back a federal model. The most radical opposition groups are urging a boycott, calling the process a "masquerade." Chad's population is divided between the arid north, dominated by Muslims, and the more fertile south, mainly home to Christians and animists.