Chadians Elect President Today, aims to End Military Rules

Chadians vote for a president on Monday in an election purportedly aimed at ending military rule.

Voters will choose whether to extend decades of Junta leader, Mahamat Idriss Deby family rule in one of the world’s poorest countries, a crucial territory in the fight against jihadism across the Sahel desert region.

They have the chance to opt instead for Deby’s own prime minister, Succes Masra, denounced as a stooge by critics in the absence of any other serious challengers.

At his closing election rally on Friday, Deby promised a “knockout in the first round”.

Masra also vowed to win without a run-off, telling supporters: “For the first time, Chad will be yours, Chadians.”

International human rights groups have warned the election will not be free or fair as Deby’s main rival has been killed and others banned from standing.

Generals named Deby transition leader in 2021 when his father, longtime president Idriss Deby Itno, was killed in a gun battle with rebels after 30 years in power.

For 26-year-old literature student Idriss Amidou in the capital N’Djamena, Deby “is the only candidate who offers any hope” and the ruling family “knows how to run the country”.

But Eric Bendiguim, a 25-year-old law student at N’Djamena University, said his first-ever vote would go to Masra.

Results are expected on May 21, with a possible second round on June 22.

AFP