Chadian electoral body declared Mahamat Déby winner of elections

Chad’s electoral commission has declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby the winner of the presidential election.

According to the results, Gen Déby won 61.3% of the vote, while his closest rival, Prime Minister Succes Masra, won 18.53%.

Mr Masra had earlier declared that he had won a “resounding victory” in the first round of voting, and that victory had been stolen “from the people”.

Gen Déby, 40, was installed as Chad’s leader by the military after his father, Idriss Déby Itno, was killed during a battle with rebel forces in April 2021.

His victory means that the Déby family’s 34-year-rule will continue.

In a victory speech hours after being declared winner, he said he would be president for “all Chadians” and not just those who voted for him.

“I have a special thought for the unfortunate candidates who have lost the competition,” he added in the speech posted to social media.