Chad’s transitional president, Mahamat Déby, has clinched victory in the country’s recent presidential poll, securing over 61 percent of the votes cast, according to the Chadian National Election Management Agency’s announcement on Thursday.
His main opponent, Succès Masra, the incumbent prime minister, trailed behind with 18.5 percent of the votes.
Déby’s win ensures his continuation in office, maintaining his family’s 34-year-long grip on power. It also eliminates the possibility of a runoff election, which would have been necessary if no candidate had secured more than 50 percent of the votes.
Before the official announcement of results, Masra took to Facebook to declare himself the winner, urging his supporters and security forces to resist what he claimed was an attempt by Déby to “steal the victory from the people.” He called upon Chadians who voted for change to mobilize peacefully.
In his victory speech, Déby pledged to serve all Chadians, regardless of their voting preferences, emphasizing unity and reconciliation.
While provisional results were initially expected by May 21, and the final outcome by June 5, the results of Monday’s election are still pending confirmation by Chad’s Constitutional Council.
