Chad is preparing to end its three year military junta as presidential elections took place today in the central African Country.
Recall that General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who seized power in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was installed as the president of the Transitional Military Council, is the favourite among the 10 candidates.
The 40-year-old became the central African nation’s leader when his father, who had repressively ruled Chad since 1990, died from wounds suffered on the front line as he visited troops in the north battling rebels.
It was further gathered that the country of around 19 million people has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from its former colonial power France in 1960.
Déby promised that his presidency was only a temporary placeholder until Chad had transitioned to a new democratic government.
But Gen Mahamat Déby is one of the favourites to win, there is some scepticism about whether this will bring about change.
Prime Minister Succès Masra is among his nine challengers and is seen as his biggest rival.
Ten politicians who had been hoping to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, were excluded by the constitutional council because of “irregularities”. For example, Mr Koursami was accused of forgery.
But some have argued that the decision to bar certain people was politically motivated.