General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has led Chad’s military junta for three years, was inaugurated as president on Thursday following an election victory disputed by the opposition.
Deby officially secured 61 percent of the May 6 vote, although international NGOs questioned its credibility and fairness, with his main rival denouncing it as a “masquerade.”
During the swearing-in ceremony, Deby pledged to fulfill his duties as entrusted by the Chadian people. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and seven African heads of state, alongside Constitutional Council members and numerous guests, witnessed the 40-year-old president’s inauguration at the Palace of Arts and Culture in N’Djamena.
The presidential term spans five years and can be extended once. In his earlier speech, Deby emphasized a commitment to a “return to constitutional order” and vowed to be a leader for all Chadians regardless of background or affiliation.
Deby assumed the role of transitional president in April 2021 after his father, President Idriss Deby Itno, was killed by rebels following three decades of rule. His inauguration marks the conclusion of three years of military rule in Chad, a nation crucial to combating extremism in the Sahel region.
Deby received swift international support in 2021, particularly from France, despite concerns about dynastic rule raised by the opposition. Prime Minister Succes Masra, who resigned following his party’s electoral defeat, contested the results but ultimately accepted the Constitutional Council’s decision.
The investiture event solidifies what the opposition views as a Deby dynasty, with critics highlighting instances of violent suppression and allegations of electoral irregularities.
Despite international acknowledgment of Deby’s presidency, the turnout of African heads of state at the inauguration underscores the varying levels of international support. French President Emmanuel Macron, while sending his congratulations, was represented by a minister, reflecting Chad’s strategic importance in the Sahel region amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.
