Africa

Chad's PM Masra resigns after disputed election, Deby confirmed winner

Chad opposition leader Succes Masra. (Photo: X/Succes Masra)

By Reuters | Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Masra, a staunch opponent of the junta, which seized power in April 2021, was appointed prime minister of the transitional government in January, four months ahead of the poll, in a move to appease the opposition.

Chad's prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra has tendered his resignation after interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby was confirmed as a winner of the May 6 presidential election, Masra said on Wednesday.

Masra, a staunch opponent of the junta, which seized power in April 2021, was appointed prime minister of the transitional government in January, four months ahead of the poll, in a move to appease the opposition.

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In March, his candidacy was cleared for the presidential election to return the country to constitutional rule. The oil-producing country is the first of a string of coup-hit states in West and Central Africa's Sahel region to attempt such a return.

Before the official announcement of preliminary results, Masra claimed victory, alleging that electoral fraud was being planned.

Masra had lodged a legal appeal with the country's constitutional council to challenge the preliminary result of the Central African nation's May 6 presidential election.

The state-run national election management body on Thursday declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby the winner of the election with 61.3 per cent of the vote, according to provisional results, while Masra was placed a distant second with 18.53 per cent.

Masra later acknowledged the council's ruling and said there were no other legal means to contest the results.

"In accordance with the constitution, I have today presented... my resignation and that of the transitional government, which has become irrelevant with the end of the presidential election of May 6," Masra said on X on Wednesday.

Deby's victory prolongs the rule of the family that has had a firm grip on power since Deby's father took over in a coup in the early 1990s.