Chad’s Military Ruler Declared Winner Amid Election Dispute

Chad’s military ruler, Mahamat Deby Itno, was declared the winner of the presidential election, securing over 61% of the vote, according to provisional results announced on Thursday.

The 40-year-old Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Idriss Deby, ascended to power following the death of his father in 2021, who had ruled for three decades.

This election marks the first since the military assumed control three years ago. Chad, an oil-rich nation of nearly 18 million, has struggled with democratic transitions since gaining independence from French colonial rule in 1960.

Debby Itno’s main challenger, Prime Minister Succès Masra, garnered 18.5% of the vote and he protested against the results. Hours before the official results were published, Masra accused the authorities of electoral manipulation in a video posted on Facebook, asserting that he was the rightful winner. He urged security forces to disobey Deby Itno’s orders.

In a speech, he said, “These orders will lead you to side with the wrong side of Chad’s history, these orders will lead you to fight your brothers and sisters, these orders will lead you to commit the irreparable and unforgivable. Refuse to obey these unjust orders!”

The announcement of the preliminary results was initially scheduled for May 21, but was hastened, surprising many and setting off celebrations among Deby Itno’s supporters who took to the streets, waving flags and honking horns.

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Emmanuel Ejiofor

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