Chad's Military Leader Déby Wins Presidential Election

Mahamat Déby, President of Chad

Mahamat Déby, the military dictator of Chad, declared the victor of the presidential election

Mahamat Déby, the interim president of Chad, has been declared the winner of the nation's presidential contest.

Mahamat Déby, the interim president of Chad, has been declared the winner of the nation's presidential contest.

The Chadian National Election Management Agency made this news public on Thursday, May 9.

Déby defeated Succès Masra, the current prime minister, who won 18.5 percent of the vote, with almost 61 percent of the vote cast on May 6.

With Déby's victory, he is able to continue as president without having to go to a runoff, which would have been necessary if no contender had garnered more than 50% of the vote.

Déby's family dynasty, which has ruled for 34 years, will continue owing to this triumph.

Masra declared himself the winner on Facebook before the official results were announced, calling on his followers and the police to thwart Déby's attempt to “steal the victory from the people.”