Chad’s junta leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election. Following the announcement of final results on Thursday, May 16, it was revealed that Deby, who assumed power after rebels killed his father, President Idriss Deby, in 2021, garnered 61 percent of the vote, with Succes Masra trailing behind at 18.54 percent. Despite opposition leader Masra acknowledging the council’s ruling without contesting it, Chad’s return to constitutional rule through elections marks a significant milestone amidst a series of coup-driven upheavals in West and Central Africa’s Sahel region. Chad, a crucial Western ally in combating al Qaeda and Islamic State-linked insurgencies in the Sahel, stands out as neighboring nations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso shift alliances, turning to Russia for support. However, tensions simmer as Chad’s recent directive to halt U.S. activities at an air base prompted a temporary withdrawal of American troops, signaling delicate diplomatic relations. Deby’s victory further entrenches the family’s longstanding dominance, tracing back to his father’s coup in the early 1990s.
