Chad’s military ruler, General Mahamat Déby, has been declared the official winner of the presidential elections, solidifying his hold on power.
According to provisional results released by the State’s Election Body, Gen Déby secured 61.3% of the vote, while his closest contender, Prime Minister Succes Masra, garnered 18.53%.
Prime Minister Masra had previously asserted a “resounding victory” in the initial round of voting, alleging that the victory had been unjustly taken away from the people
Following the announcement of the results, supporters of the ruling coalition took to the streets of N’Djamena in celebration of Gen Déby’s victory.
In his victory speech shared on social media, Gen Déby pledged to serve all Chadians, extending his gratitude to both his supporters and those who chose differently. He also expressed sympathy for the unsuccessful candidates.
However, just before the official declaration, Prime Minister Masra claimed victory in a live broadcast on Facebook, urging his supporters and security forces to resist what he labeled as an attempt by Gen Déby to “steal the victory from the people.”
The election results, announced earlier than anticipated, still await confirmation by the Constitutional Council.
Chad stands as the first among West and Central African nations where military rule has been supplanted by elections to restore civilian governance. Nevertheless, critics argue that with Gen Déby’s election, substantive change remains elusive.
While Monday’s voting was largely peaceful, reports emerged of at least one voter fatality and some opposition claims of irregularities during polling.
Ten aspiring politicians were barred from running by the constitutional council due to purported “irregularities,” a move perceived by some as politically motivated.
Yaya Dillo, another potential contender and a cousin of Gen Déby, was killed by security forces in February amid allegations of leading an assault on the National Security Agency in N’Djamena.
Calls for an election boycott were made by activists, with many still in exile following a lethal crackdown on dissenters after protests in October 2022.
Chad, an oil-exporting nation with nearly 18 million inhabitants, has not experienced a genuine transfer of power since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Idriss Déby, the father of Gen Mahamat Déby, assumed power in 1990 after toppling Hissène Habré and remained at the helm for three decades until his demise in April 2021 during a clash with rebel forces. Initially, Gen Déby had committed to serving as interim leader for only 18 months, a period later extended. He also declared that he would not vie for the presidency.
