Chad’s constitutional council officially declared Mahamat Idriss Deby as the winner of the May 6 presidential election on Thursday, solidifying his family’s long-standing rule over the country, which began with his father’s coup in the 1990s.
The 40-year-old Deby secured 61% of the vote, while his closest rival, Succès Masra, received 18.54%.
Masra, the opposition leader, accepted the council’s decision.
He said,
With the constitutional council’s decision today, we have used all available legal means.” He acknowledged no further “legal means” to pursue within the country’s legal system.
Chad, an oil-producing nation in the Sahel region, has faced political instability, but this election marks an attempt to return to constitutional governance.
Despite its challenges, Chad remains an essential ally for the West in the fight against insurgencies in the region, as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have all left the West and turned to Russia for military support.
The constitutional council dismissed challenges from Masra and another candidate, Albert Pahimini Padacke, citing insufficient evidence.
The election process has been overshadowed by violence, including celebratory gunfire resulting in casualties. Additionally, the death of opposition figure Yaya Dillo labelled an assassination, raised questions about the fairness of the election.
Read: Nasarawa Women to Create New Policy Addressing Gender Disparities
About The Author
