Chadians go to the polls on Monday, three years after military leaders seized power, in the first presidential election since a wave of coups in Africa's Sahel region.
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Analysts say Mahamat Idris Deby, who took power in April 2021 on the day rebels killed his long-ruling father Idris Deby, is most likely to win. However, his arch-rival is drawing larger-than-expected crowds on the campaign trail.
Mr Deby promised to strengthen security, strengthen the rule of law and increase electricity generation.
The vote coincided with the temporary withdrawal of U.S. troops from Chad, a key Western ally in the jihadist-plagued West and Central African region that has been courted by Russia.
Voting began at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m., with about 8.5 million people registered to vote.
Soldiers began early voting Sunday.
Preliminary results are expected by May 21st and final results by June 5th. If no candidate receives 50% or more of the votes, a runoff election will be held on June 22nd.
Since taking over from his father at the helm of the Central African oil-producing nation, Deby has maintained close ties with France, his former colonial power and longtime ally.
Other Sahel countries ruled by military regimes, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have told Paris and other Western countries to leave and asked Moscow for help, but Chad still has a substantial French military presence. It is the last Sahel nation.
But the United States last month announced a temporary withdrawal of at least some troops and said it would continue to review its security operations after the election.
Opposition parties' concerns
Monday's vote pits Deby against Prime Minister Success Masra, a former political rival who went into exile in 2022 but was allowed to return a year later. Former Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padakke and seven other candidates are also running.
Yaya Dilo, an opposition politician who was expected to run with Deby despite being from the same family, was shot dead in the capital N'Djamena on February 28, the day the election date was announced.
Padacke accused Masra of collaborating with Debbie. But Masra drew large audiences to his rallies.
Some opposition politicians and civil society groups have called for a boycott, citing concerns about possible voter fraud.
That has raised concerns about the possibility of violence.
“This presidential election is extremely important for this country because we all want change,” he said. Vaniyara Yoyanaformer minister and judge.
“This process must be conducted transparently to avoid the risk of conflict.”
But one Debbie supporter said she didn't expect any problems.
“I hope the elections will be successful and peaceful,” said Abdelkader Sougi, a 28-year-old student.
“My hope is to vote on the morning of May 6 to confirm our victory in the first round.”
(Reuters)
