Chad’s constitutional council has confirmed the results of the recent presidential election, declaring interim military ruler Mahamat Déby as the winner.
The council dismissed challenges from two losing candidates in the May 6 election. The electoral body announced that Gen. Déby secured 61% of the vote, while his closest competitor, Prime Minister Succes Masra, received 19%. Masra claimed that the election results were fraudulent, asserting that the victory had been “stolen from the people.”
Several opposition candidates reported irregularities on polling day, and the exclusion of 10 potential candidates by the constitutional council fueled accusations of unfair practices.
Chad is the first nation among those in West and Central Africa where the military recently seized power to hold elections and move towards civilian rule. Gen. Déby, 40, was appointed as interim leader by the military following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed on the frontline by rebels in April 2021 after a 34-year rule.
Gen. Déby’s victory extends the Déby family’s control over Chad, legitimizing his authority and continuing their long-standing grip on power.
