The ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement party of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has won 124 of the 188 seats in the National Assembly, according to preliminary results published by the central electoral commission. Voter turnout was 51.56 percent, BTA reports.
The vote, which also included local and regional elections, was the first in Chad in more than a decade. The results cement the country's transition to constitutional rule more than three years after Deby took power following the assassination of his father, long-time president Idriss Deby Itno.
Opposition boycott and allegations of manipulation
The elections were boycotted by key opposition parties, including the “Reform Party“, led by Sukse Masra. The opposition described the process as manipulated and non-transparent. The ruling party rejected these accusations, emphasizing the legitimacy of the elections.
The boycott contributed to the easy victory of the ruling party, which will allow Déby to strengthen his influence in Chad.
International context and implications for the region
Mahamat Idriss Déby was elected president in May 2023 in disputed elections, three years after declaring himself interim leader. During this period, Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist groups in the Sahel region, has undergone strategic changes.
The country terminated its defense cooperation agreement with France and threatened to withdraw from the regional multinational security force, raising concerns about the future stability of the region, where Chad had played a significant role in the fight against Islamic extremism.