Chad's military leader, Mahamat Deby Itno, has been declared the winner of the recent presidential election, according to provisional results released on Thursday. The outcome of the election has sparked controversy as his main rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, contested the results.
The national agency overseeing Chad's election process unexpectedly released the results of Monday's vote ahead of schedule. The figures revealed that Deby Itno secured just over 61% of the vote, while Masra trailed significantly with over 18.5% of the vote. The announcement of Deby Itno's victory was followed by gunfire in the capital.
The preliminary results, which were initially slated for release on May 21, came after Chad's long-delayed presidential election following three years of military rule. Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Idriss Deby, assumed power after his father, who had ruled for three decades, was killed in combat against rebels in 2021.
Chad, an oil-exporting nation with a population of nearly 18 million, has not experienced a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence in 1960 after years of French colonial rule.
Hours before the official announcement, Masra took to Facebook to accuse the authorities of planning to manipulate the election results. In a speech lasting 11 minutes, Masra claimed victory and urged Chad's military, police, and security forces to defy Deby Itno's directives.
Masra, the leader of The Transformers opposition party, had fled Chad in October 2022 after his party and several others were suspended by the military government during protests against Deby Itno's decision to extend his term by two years. The demonstrations resulted in over 60 fatalities, which the government labeled as an attempted coup.
An agreement reached between the country's minister of reconciliation and Masra's party last year allowed the exiled politician and other opposition figures to return to Chad, with Masra subsequently being appointed as prime minister.
Chad is considered a crucial ally by the U.S. and France in the Sahel region, following military coups in neighboring countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The ruling juntas in these nations have expelled French forces and sought security support from Russian mercenary units.
