Chad’s opposition leader has taken legal action by filing an appeal with the country’s constitutional council to contest the preliminary results of the May 6 presidential election.
In posts on social media Sunday, Succès Masra shared evidence of the documents filed with the council, challenging the election outcome.
The preliminary results indicated that President Mahamat Deby Itno secured over 61% of the vote, with Masra as the runner-up, garnering over 18.5%.
Masra, who serves as the prime minister of Chad’s transitional government, had previously declared victory before the official announcement, raising concerns about potential manipulation of the election results. However, he has not yet presented public evidence to support his claims.
According to Rakimdon Jacques Houitouto, a human rights law expert in Chad, if the constitutional council finds Masra’s case compelling, it may consider annulling the election results. The timeline for the council’s decision remains uncertain.
Chad conducted its long-awaited election after a period of three years under military rule. The victory of the incumbent, Deby Itno, also known as Mahamat Idriss Deby, was widely anticipated. He assumed power following the death of his father, who had ruled for three decades until his demise while combating rebels in 2021.
With nearly 18 million inhabitants, Chad has not experienced a democratic transfer of power since gaining independence in 1960 after a period of French colonial rule.
Masra, who leads The Transformers opposition party, fled Chad in October 2022 amid political turmoil. His party, along with six others, was suspended by the military government during protests against Deby Itno’s decision to extend his presidency by two years. The demonstrations resulted in over 60 fatalities, condemned by the government as an attempted coup.
An agreement reached between the country’s reconciliation minister and Masra’s political party in late 2023 paved the way for the return of the exiled politician and other opposition figures. Subsequently, Masra was appointed as prime minister.
