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The state-run national election management body on Thursday
declared interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby winner of the
election with 61.3% of the vote, according to provisional
results, while Masra was placed a distant second with 18.53%.
However, prior to the official announcement, Masra, who serves
as the prime minister of a transitional government, had claimed
victory, alleging that an electoral fraud was being planned.
"With the help of our lawyers, ... we submitted a request to the
Constitutional Council to reveal the truth of the ballot boxes,"
Masra said in posts on social media platforms Facebook and X on
Sunday, urging his supporters to remain calm.
He shared a copy of a receipt showing that documents had been
filed with the council, which an opposition official close to
Masra said included copies of results sheets from polling
stations, a table pulling together the figures and videos that
allegedly show ballot stuffing and other cheating.
"We documented everything," the person said.
Political tensions are running high in Chad, the first of a
string of coup-hit countries in West and Central Africa to
attempt a return to constitutional rule. Deby seized power in
April 2021 when rebels killed his long-ruling father, Idriss
Deby.
At least 10 people, including children, were killed and dozens
were injured by celebratory gunfire on Friday following the
announcement of the results, according to Amnesty International
and Chadian media.
Chad's health ministry confirmed that a number of people were
hurt during the celebration of Deby's win, but asked journalists
not to film or report on patients inside hospitals, a move
condemned by Chad's press unions.
(Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane and David Lewis; Writing by Bate
Felix; Editing by Portia Crowe and Alex Richardson)
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