Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Déby, has been officially declared the winner of the presidential election, solidifying his control.
General Déby secured 61.3% of the vote, as reported by the electoral commission citing preliminary results, while his main opponent, Prime Minister Succes Masra, received 18.53%.
Mr. Masra previously proclaimed a “decisive victory” in the initial voting round, asserting that the triumph was taken “from the people.”
General Déby, aged 40, assumed leadership of Chad through military appointment after the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who perished in conflict with insurgents in April 2021.
This win extends the Déby family’s 34-year dominion.
Following the announcement, the ruling coalition’s supporters flooded N’Djamena’s streets in celebration of General Déby’s win.
In a social media victory address, he vowed to represent all Chadians, including both his supporters and those who chose differently.
He expressed his consideration for the candidates who did not succeed.
Prime Minister Masra, just before the declaration of results, broadcasted live on Facebook claiming his victory and urged his followers and the security forces to resist what he described as General Déby’s attempt to “usurp the people’s victory.”
He criticized a minority for trying to convince the populace that the election was won by the longstanding ruling system.
Addressing his supporters, Mr. Masra encouraged mobilization in a peaceful and calm manner.
The election outcome was revealed a fortnight sooner than anticipated.
The results still require confirmation by the Constitutional Council. Chad stands as the first among the nations in West and Central Africa, where military coups have occurred recently, to conduct elections and transition back to civilian governance. However, critics argue that Gen Déby’s election has not significantly altered the political landscape. Although the voting on Monday proceeded with relative calm, local media reported the death of at least one voter. Reports of irregularities during the polling have also surfaced from opposition groups.
The constitutional council disqualified ten politicians aspiring to run due to “irregularities,” a move some believe was politically motivated. Yaya Dillo, a relative and potential rival of Gen Déby, was killed by security forces in February during an alleged assault on the National Security Agency in N’Djamena. Calls for an election boycott were made by activists.
Following a lethal suppression of dissent post-protests in October 2022, numerous individuals remain in exile. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the oil-rich nation with a population nearing 18 million has not experienced a democratic transfer of power. Idriss Déby seized power from Hissène Habré in 1990 and ruled for the next thirty years until his death in combat in April 2021, at 68. Gen Déby initially committed to an 18-month tenure as interim leader, which was subsequently extended, and he stated he would not seek the presidency.