AU Commission Chairperson’s Silence on Chadian Elections Clarified

In response to a news report by Radio France Internationale (RFI) on May 20, 2024, concerning the silence of the African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, regarding the Chadian elections, important clarifications have been provided.

The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), which is the sole continental body responsible for peace and security issues, formally prohibited military personnel from participating in the elections following the establishment of the Military Council in Chad.
This prohibition has been consistently reiterated in all PSC communiqués. The most recent communiqué, issued on May 11, 2023, extended the ban to all transitional authorities, expressly stating that “members of the transitional authorities must not take part in the planned elections, in accordance with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.”
Aware of this provision, the transitional authorities in Chad chose not to invite the African Union (AU) to observe the elections. Given these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for the Chairperson of the Commission to comment on the election results, as doing so would contravene PSC decisions, which he is obligated to uphold.
The responsibility to address and decide on the implications of these decisions rests with the Peace and Security Council.
Ebba Kalondo, Spokesperson to the Chairperson of the Commission, emphasized this point in her statement.