Transition President Mahamat Idriss Déby Leads Chad Amidst Military Rule Succession
Mahamat Idriss Déby has served as transitional president following the demise of his father, Idriss Déby, who governed Chad for three decades until his death in April 2021. Déby pledges to enhance security, reinforce the rule of law, and boost electricity production. However, his primary opponent garners significant support during the campaign.
The election coincides with a temporary withdrawal of US troops from Chad, a crucial Western ally in a region sought after by Russia and plagued by extremism.
Polling stations open at 7 am and close at 5 pm, with 8.5 million registered voters. Soldiers cast early ballots on Sunday.
Provisional results are anticipated by May 21, with final results by June 5. A runoff is slated for June 22 if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes.
Déby has upheld close ties with former colonial power France since assuming leadership in the oil-rich Central African nation. Unlike neighboring Sahel nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have called for the withdrawal of Western powers, Chad retains a significant French military presence.
Although the US announced a temporary troop withdrawal last month, citing a security operations review post-election, Chad remains a pivotal Sahel state with French military involvement.
