Chad’s President Deby wins election against prime minister in heated race

Violence and questions of election-rigging, however, marred the vote tally, which was announced earlier than expected.

Military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby has won a closely watched presidential election in the country of Chad, according to provisional results released by its National Election Management Agency.

Deby secured more than 61 percent of the vote, according to the numbers released on Thursday, eliminating the need for a runoff with his closest rival, Prime Minister Succes Masra, who received 18.5 percent.

The victory allows Deby, the incumbent, to hold onto the presidency with a voter mandate.

Previously, he led the country as its interim president, seizing power after his father, the late President Idriss Deby, was killed in April 2021 while fighting a rebel group in the north of the country.

But his rival in the presidential race, Masra, has already indicated he will not accept the election results.