- author, Kathryn Armstrong & Paul Nee
- role, BBC News, London and Chad
-
Chad's military ruler Mahamat Deby has been declared the official winner of the presidential election, legitimizing his seizure of power.
According to the state electoral body, preliminary results showed Ms Devi garnering 61.3% of the vote, while her closest rival, Prime Minister Success Mathra, received 18.53%.
Mr Masra had earlier declared that he had won a “huge victory” in the first round and that victory had been stolen “from the people”.
General Deby, 40, was appointed by the military to lead Chad after his father, Idriss Deby Itno, was killed in April 2021 while fighting rebel forces.
His victory means the 34-year reign of the Devi family continues.
After the results were announced, supporters of the ruling coalition flooded the streets of N'Djamena to celebrate General Deby's victory.
In a victory speech posted on social media, he promised to serve all Chadians, “a president for those who voted for me and for those who made other choices.”
“I have special feelings for the candidates who unfortunately lost their competition.”
Shortly before the election results were announced, Prime Minister Masra claimed victory in a live Facebook broadcast, calling on his supporters and security forces to protest, calling it an attempt by General Debi to “steal victory from the people.”
“A small number of people believe they can trick people into believing that the same regime that has ruled Chad for decades won the election,” he said.
“I say to all the Chadians who voted for change, to all the Chadians who voted for me: Unite. Be calm, in a spirit of peace,” he added.
Monday's election results were announced two weeks earlier than expected.
It still requires approval from the Constitutional Council.
Chad recently became the first country in West and Central Africa to take over military power and hold elections to restore civilian rule.
But critics say General Deby's selection will change little.
Monday's vote was largely peaceful, but at least one voter died, according to local media.
There were also reports from opposition parties that there were irregularities on voting day.
Ten politicians who wanted to run for office were excluded from the Constitutional Council on grounds of “improper conduct,” and some believe that this was politically motivated.
Another potential adversary, General Deby's cousin Yaya Dilo, was killed by security forces in February after he was suspected of leading an attack on the National Security Agency in the capital, N'Djamena.
Activists had called for a boycott of the election.
Many remain in exile following a deadly crackdown on opposition following the October 2022 protests.
The oil-exporting nation of about 18 million people has not had a free and fair transfer of power since it gained independence from France in 1960.
Idriss Deby overthrew Hissene Habré in 1990 and ruled for the next 30 years, until his death on the battlefield in April 2021 at the age of 68.
General Deby initially promised to remain as interim leader for just 18 months, but that period was later extended. He also said he would not run for president.