With Monday’s presidential election, Chad is expected to become the first of Africa’s current junta-run states to transition to democratic rule.
This ends a three-year transition imposed after the sudden death of longtime leader Idriss Deby Itno while fighting rebels.
But with his son and successor, General Mahamat Déby, one of the favorites to win, there is some skepticism as to whether this will lead to any change.
Prime Minister Succès Masra is among his nine challengers and is considered his biggest rival.
Ten other politicians who had hoped to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, were barred by the Constitutional Council for “irregularities.” For example, Mr. Koursami was accused of forgery.
However, some have argued that the decision to exclude certain people was politically motivated.
Another potential opponent, Yaya Dillo, was killed by security forces in February when he allegedly led an attack on the National Security Agency in the capital N’Djamena.
Activists have called for an election boycott, which they described as a ploy to give the Deby dynasty a semblance of democratic legitimacy.
Many are still in exile following deadly crackdowns on opposition members following protests in October 2022.
Still, Chad’s election is a milestone for countries in West and Central Africa that have fallen under military rule since a wave of coups began in 2020.
It could serve as a template for juntas seeking to maintain their political influence after initially gaining power illegitimately.
Since independence from France in 1960, there has not been a free and fair transfer of power in the oil-exporting country of nearly 18 million people.
Idriss Déby overthrew Hissène Habré in 1990 and remained in power for the next three decades until he died on the battlefield in April 2021 at the age of 68.
His son, now 40, took office in what opponents called a constitutional coup, initially promising to stay as interim leader for just 18 months, a period that was later extended. He also said he would not run for president.
General Déby has tried to allay concerns that he is part of a dynasty.
“If I am elected, I will serve my five-year term and at the end of my term it will be up to the people to judge me. “As far as a dynasty is concerned, our constitution is very clear – a candidate cannot serve more than two consecutive terms,” he told France 24 television.
Masra, also 40, was appointed prime minister by General Déby in January after a deal was brokered to repair political fractures from the October 2022 protests.
The economist has been accused by some of betraying the opposition, but he has dismissed rumors of a secret power-sharing agreement with General Déby after the election.
He has called on Chadians to vote for him to end six decades of “darkness” and “darkness.”
The people of Chad are desperate for change, says the BBC’s Paul Njie in N’Djamena.
But when it comes to voting, there is a mix of hope and despair, he adds.
However, the hope that this vote, whoever wins, could spark a new era of young leadership in the country is desperate, as life has become harder for many in the country over the last three decades.
Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring.
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