Chad’s President Deby Seeks To Extend 30-Year Rule In Election

Presidential elections have held in Chad with incumbent Idriss Deby expected to extend his three-decade rule in the seven-candidate race.

The 68-year-old who was one of the first to cast his ballot on Sunday, faced no major rivals and a campaign in which demonstrations were banned or violently dispersed.

Asides Deby, the other candidates include a former prime minister under Deby, Albert Pahimi Padacke, and Felix Nialbe Romadoumngar, who is officially leader of the opposition as his URD party is the second largest in the National Assembly with eight seats, after 160 for Deby’s PDS.

Also joining the race is Lydie Beassemda, the first woman to run for president in Chad’s history.

However, seven candidacies were rejected by the Supreme Court while three withdrew, including longtime opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo, who quit in protest over violence by the security forces.

Opposition leaders have called for a boycott in protest against Deby’s leadership.

Chad has been a key ally in the West’s anti-jihadist campaign in the Sahel and Deby has campaigned on a platform, promising security.

The former rebel and career soldier seized power in a coup in 1990. After being voted in, he changed the constitution in 2018 to allow him to stay in power until 2033.

He has maintained a firm grip on the military and state institutions to maintain power.