By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Chad’s interim and military leader, Mahamat Deby Itno, has been declared winner of the May 6 presidential election. This follows provisional results released on Thursday, May 9, by the National Election Management Agency (NEMA) chief, Ahmed Bartichet.
Deby Itno secured a significant victory with 61 percent of the vote. His victory means that the Déby family’s 34-year-rule will continue. His main rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, fell far behind with just over 18.5 percent and has contested the results.
Masra preemptively claimed victory earlier on Thursday in a Facebook live broadcast, alleging manipulation of the election process.
The announcement was met with unrest in the capital, with gunfire erupting shortly afterward. The initial release of preliminary results, originally expected on May 21, was also met with surprise.
In the meantime, international organizations have expressed serious concerns about the legitimacy of the election. They have stated that the vote did not appear credible, free, nor democratic and highlighted several issues that cast doubt on its fairness in the lead-up to the balloting.
These issues included the pre-election killing of opposition figure Yaya Dillo, the disqualification of prominent opposition candidates, and other irregularities that critics argue compromised the process’s integrity.
Deby was appointed transitional president by fellow military leaders in 2021 following the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno.
The elder Deby had ruled Chad for three decades with an authoritarian grip according to observers. However, his son initially promised an 18-month transition to democracy but later extended it by two years.
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