As the Opposition disputes the Outcome, Chad’s military ruler is Declared the Winner of the Presidential Election

According to preliminary results made public on Thursday, Mahamat Deby Itno, the commander of Chad’s armed forces, has been proclaimed the victor of this week’s presidential election. Prime Minister Succès Masra, his chief rival, disputed the results.

Weeks ahead of schedule, the national organization in charge of Chad’s election declared the results of Monday’s vote. Deby Itno emerged victorious with slightly more than 61% of the vote, while Masra, who came in second, trailed far behind with slightly more than 18.5% of the vote. Following the announcement, gunfire broke out in the nation’s capital. On May 21, preliminary findings were first anticipated.

After three years of military rule, Chad held its long-awaited presidential election, which most analysts predicted the incumbent would win. Following his father’s death in 2021 while fighting rebels, Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Idriss Deby, took over the position of power. His father had ruled for thirty years.

After decades of French colonial rule, the oil-exporting nation of approximately 18 million people has never experienced a free and fair power transfer since gaining independence in 1960. Masra released a speech on Facebook a few hours before Thursday’s announcement, in which he accused the authorities of plotting to rig the results.