Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Deby Itno, was declared the winner of the presidential election, with provisional results showing him winning over 61% of the vote. His main rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, contested the results, accusing the authorities of planning to manipulate the outcome. Gunfire erupted in the capital in response to the announcement. This election marked the end of three years of military rule in the country, with analysts predicting Deby Itno’s victory. The country hasn’t had a free and fair transfer of power since gaining independence in 1960.
Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Idriss Deby, came to power after his father, who had been in power for three decades, was killed fighting rebels in 2021. The oil-exporting country of nearly 18 million people has a history of political instability and unrest. Masra, the president of The Transformers opposition party, had fled Chad in 2022 but was allowed to return and was later appointed as prime minister. He accused Deby Itno of planning to manipulate the election outcome and called on the military and security forces to refuse to follow his orders to prevent a potential conflict.
The quick release of the election results by the national agency managing Chad’s elections surprised many, as preliminary results were expected later in May. Masra’s accusations of manipulation and his declaration of victory suggest a highly contentious electoral process in a country where political tensions run high. The involvement of the military in politics has been a longstanding issue in Chad, with Deby Itno’s victory marking a continuation of military rule in the country.
Chad’s role as a stable ally in the Sahel region has been crucial for the U.S. and France, particularly in the face of military coups and instability in neighboring countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The country’s strategic importance has led to international scrutiny of its political processes, with concerns about transparency and fairness in the recent election. The expulsion of French forces from other Sahel nations and the turn to Russian mercenaries for security assistance have underscored Chad’s unique position in the region. Deby Itno’s victory in the election is likely to have implications beyond the country’s borders.
