Chad’s transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, won the May 6 presidential election with 61.03% of the vote, the electoral commission said, according to official provisional results, ahead of Prime Minister Succès Masra, with 18.53 %. The latter claimed, for his part, to have won “victory in the first round”.
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According to the provisional results of the electoral commission, the Chadian transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, won the May 6 presidential election with 61.03% of the votes, ahead of his main rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, credited with 18. 53%. The latter, however, had earlier claimed to have won “victory in the first round”.
Former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké, third, obtained 16.91%. The participation rate is 75.89%, according to the electoral commission.
The official provisional results of Monday’s presidential election in Chad were announced Thursday evening, May 9, 12 days before the date initially planned in its calendar, by the National Election Management Agency (ANGE). These counts must still be validated by the Constitutional Council, which was also appointed by the head of the junta.
Shortly after the announcement, soldiers fired automatic weapons into the air in N’Djamena, out of joy and obviously to dissuade people from gathering, AFP journalists reported. Some residents ran to hide in their homes and the streets were quickly deserted.
In the center of the capital, it was the opposite near the Presidential Palace, many Déby supporters celebrated his victory by shouting and singing and honking in their cars, some of which were covered with the Chadian flag. Individuals also fired bursts of automatic weapons into the air. At least two teenagers were injured by falling bullets, an AFP journalist testified.
Success Masra claims victory
“I am now the elected president of all Chadians”, declared Idriss Déby Itno in a very brief televised speech in a monotone tone, promising to implement his “commitments”.
In power since April 2021, the current leader was proclaimed president by the army upon the death of his father Idriss Deby, killed on the battlefield after more than thirty years of reign.
The vote came down to an unprecedented duel between the head of the junta and the former opponent who rallied to the military regime which appointed him Prime Minister at the start of the year. On Monday seven other candidates competed but, little known or deemed not very hostile to power, they had no chance of grabbing more than a few votes.
Read alsoPresidential election in Chad: Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, a discreet general in the footsteps of his father
Success Masra affirmed Thursday, shortly before the announcement of the official results, that he had won “victory in the first round” of the presidential election.
The compilation of the results by his own camp “confirms the victory in the first round, that of change over the status quo”, announced Succès Masra in a long speech on its Facebook page. The electoral commission is due to announce the official results in the evening. “The victory is resounding and unblemished,” he proclaimed.
But he also affirmed that the camp of General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, proclaimed head of state three years ago by the army, was going to announce that the latter had “won” the presidential election and thus try to “steal his victory to the people.” “Chadians, mobilize peacefully, calmly (…) to prove your victory,” he said before the time of the official announcement of the results.
Read alsoPresidential election in Chad: Masra success, real opponent or ally of power?
With AFP
