Chad declares interim president Mahamat Idriss Deby winner of disputed vote

Chad’s military leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, 40,  has been declared winner of Monday’s presidential election, according to provisional results by the electoral body, the National Elections Management Agency of Chad.

According to the election body, Deby garnered 61.03 per cent of the votes cast; beating nine other candidates.

His main challenger, transitional Prime Minister, Succes Masra, also 40, came in a distant second with 18.53 per cent. He has rejected the results.

Former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke, 58,  who was runner-up in the last presidential election in 2021, came in third place with 16.91 percent.

The results were announced on Thursday night, about two weeks earlier than expected. Preliminary results of the vote were initially expected on May 21. The outcome of the vote will be validated and announced by the Constitutional Council

Provisional results

Speaking in a live Facebook declaration just before the proclamation of the provisional results, Masra said he won the election with a “resounding victory” but the results were being manipulated.

"A small group of individuals have refused to accept the will of a majority of Chadians, and want to reverse the order of the numbers…They believe they can make people believe the election was won by the same system that has ruled Chad for decades,” Masra said, apparently referring to the elections management agency and the junta leader.

An opposition leader appointed Prime Minister of the transition in January, Masra called on Chadians who voted for him – “for change,” according to him, not to accept what he described as unjust results, which prevent their desire for change, “from being stolen by the few who seek a dynasty”. He also urged the army to stand behind him and “refuse to obey unjust orders” from those individuals.

Civil society and rights groups had raised concerns over the credibility and transparency of the election. The International Crisis Group said “a number of problems in the run-up to the balloting cast doubt on its credibility”.

Local media reported an unusual military deployment on the streets of the capital N'Djamena hours before the announcement of the provisional results.

Transition

With the election, Chad has become the first of current junta-led countries in Africa to transition to democratic rule, though analysts say he will simply be a military leader now in civilian clothes when his victory is eventually confirmed.

The presidential election is the last stage of three-year military rule which rights groups and opposition say has been marked by deep political and social tensions in the country since April 2021.

General Deby seized power after his father, President Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the country for over three decades, was killed by rebels on the battlefield. Deby the son had pledged to return power to civilian rule in 18 months – a deadline he did not respect, postponing the vote to this year.

Chad has been in turmoil and has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of power since independence from France in 1960.