Recent remarks from Chad’s leadership, attributing state failures to divine will and invoking religious fear to control citizens, ring hollow against the backdrop of widespread hardship endured by the population. While faith and spirituality remain cornerstones of societal resilience in Chad, their exploitation to mask systemic governance failures, economic stagnation, and institutional decay demands urgent scrutiny.

Governance, by its very nature, must be rooted in accountability—not divine decree. Yet, the current administration’s persistent reliance on religious rhetoric fails to conceal a dismal track record. Transparency and justice, fundamental tenets of both faith and governance, demand that leaders prioritize the public interest over personal agendas.

Election integrity in question

The May 2024 presidential election exposed deep flaws in Chad’s democratic process. Legitimate grievances, disputed official figures, and independent observer reports revealed a system engineered to entrench power rather than reflect the people’s will. The violence that followed the contested outcome further eroded public trust, reducing the electoral process to a hollow spectacle.

For faith-based governance to regain credibility, absolute transparency in vote management is non-negotiable. The upcoming legislative and local elections will serve as a litmus test. Without a complete overhaul of the electoral body, publication of polling station results, and a fresh voter registry, Chad’s democratic transition remains a distant illusion.

Nepotism erodes republican values

Divine justice condemns favoritism, corruption, and inequality—yet Chad’s leadership continues to centralize power through nepotism. Key state positions, financial institutions, and security forces are increasingly filled based on regional, clan, or familial ties rather than merit. The result? A generation of qualified professionals is sidelined, while critical administrative roles—especially in oil and customs revenue management—are treated as personal spoils for the inner circle. This systemic injustice fuels resentment and threatens national stability.

Collapse of essential services: a failure of leadership

Portraying daily hardships as divinely ordained trials reflects a cynical deflection of responsibility. Chad’s crumbling infrastructure is not a test of faith but a consequence of managerial incompetence.

The energy crisis in N’Djamena has reached catastrophic levels. Hospitals and businesses reel under scheduled blackouts, while a recent power plant fire deepens the crisis. In Abéché, Sarh, and Moundou, water shortages persist despite the country’s abundant natural reserves—yet access remains a daily struggle due to administrative negligence.

The mismanagement extends to Chad’s vast oil and gold revenues, diverted away from critical infrastructure to benefit a privileged few. Can divine justice truly endorse such plundering of national wealth?

Chadians are no longer satisfied with moral platitudes or empty promises. They demand functional institutions, equitable resource distribution, and governance that delivers tangible improvements. The sincerity of leadership can only be measured by measurable progress in their lives.