Chad swears in President Mahamat Deby Itno amid controversial elections.

Chad swears in President Mahamat Deby Itno Amid Arguable Elections

N’Djamena, Chad Following elections on May 6, marking the end of three years of military control, Chad has named Mahamat Deby Itno as its president. Still controversial, nonetheless, this political change results from disagreements about the validity of the election.

Following the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Deby, took over. He was assassinated in 2021 while fighting rebels following a thirty-year rule. Originally scheduled multiple times, the most recent elections were meant to bring democratic government back into effect in the nation.

Just one day before the inauguration, Deby’s main rival, Succès Masra, who has a track record of opposing Deby’s prolonged dominance, tendered his resignation as prime minister. Masra had left Chad in 2022 because of his participation in anti-government demonstrations, but he returned last year to take over as prime minister. Claiming he had won, he challenged the election results; his appeal was turned down.

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Particularly after Chad banned 2,900 EU-trained monitors from supervising the polling process, the election drew heavy criticism and mistrust. Western leaders—including those from the United States, France, and the UK—have supported Deby Itno despite these anomalies. In the increasingly unstable Sahel region, which has witnessed several military coups in surrounding nations such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, they consider Chad a vital ally.

Deby Itno promised in his inaugural speech to concentrate on important issues including healthcare, water access, education, and industry. “I understand your need for change, as expressed here. Let each of us individually and together contribute to bring about the transformation we all aspire, wish for, and expect,” he said.

With a population of around 18 million and a major oil-exporting country, Chad has battled to have a democratic transfer of power since it broke away from French colonial control in 1960. Though there is much debate about it, the present political change is considered a turning point.