Mahamat Idriss Deby Wins the Controversial Presidential Election in Chad

N'Djamena, Chad-Chad's National Election Management Agency has announced that military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby has won the presidential election, securing over 61 percent of the vote.

This decisive victory eliminates the need for a runoff against his closest rival, Prime Minister Succes Masra, who garnered 18.5 percent of the vote.

Mahamat Idriss Deby ascended to power as interim president following the death of his father, President Idriss Deby, in April 2021.

The elder Deby was killed while combating a rebel group in northern Chad, after leading the country since 1990.

The election results have sparked immediate controversy. Prime Minister Masra, who has significantly trailed in the provisional results, declared himself the winner in a live Facebook broadcast.

Masra accused Deby and the current administration of election fraud and manipulating the results to maintain their longstanding rule over Chad.

He vehemently rejected the official outcomes and called for his supporters and security forces to back his claim to the presidency.

Critics of the Deby regime point to a pattern of stifling opposition to secure power. Notably, Deby's cousin, Yaya Dillo, a leading opposition figure, was killed during a security operation at his party headquarters.

Furthermore, several other opposition candidates were disqualified from the race due to alleged irregularities in their applications.

This election was historical for Chad as it was the first time an incumbent president faced his prime minister in the polls.

Despite promising "free and democratic elections" within 18 months of taking office in 2021, Deby's government extended the transitional period until 2024, allowing him additional time as the head of state.

Chad remains a critical player in the Sahel region, still hosting French military forces, a remnant of its colonial past under French rule until 1960.

The election's backdrop includes ongoing instability in the Sahel, where neighboring countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have experienced military coups since 2020.

As Chad navigates this contentious electoral outcome, the international community and local stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation, with concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process continuing to loom over the nation's future.