The Constitutional Council of Chad confirmed Mahamat Idriss Déby as the nation’s president on Thursday, May 16, after he secured 61% of the vote in the recent elections. Déby’s victory was significantly ahead of his closest rivals, Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké and opposition leader Succès Masra.
The final results, announced after the Council’s thorough review and minor adjustments to the vote counts, showed Déby with 61.03%, Padacké with 16.93%, and Masra with 18.54%. The election saw a voter turnout of 75.78%.
In the aftermath of the announcement, Succès Masra addressed his supporters on social media, urging them to remain calm and patient. He emphasized the importance of seeking political solutions rather than pursuing further legal challenges. Masra’s acceptance of the results marks a significant move towards political stability in the country.
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Albert Pahimi Padacké’s campaign also accepted the Council’s decision. His campaign director called for national unity and urged President Déby to tackle the pressing issues facing Chad.
Déby’s supporters celebrated the validation of the election results, viewing it as a successful conclusion to the transitional period. The calm in N’Djamena following the announcement was a stark contrast to the unrest that erupted after the provisional results were released, which resulted in at least 10 deaths. This time, the capital remained largely deserted, and authorities had banned celebratory gunfire, contributing to the peaceful atmosphere.
President Mahamat Idriss Déby now faces the challenge of addressing the country’s many issues, with a mandate to lead following a democratic process affirmed by the Constitutional Council.
