APA-Ndjamena (Chad) Monday’s election in Chad will bring to an end three years of a political transition spearheaded by a military junta.
General Mahamat Idris Deby is considered the clear favourite as millions of Chadians head to the polls on Monday to determine who becomes the country’s next president.
Mahamat, 40, seized power shortly after his father Idris Deby Itno who was president for over 30 years was killed while confronting Chadian rebels on the war front in 2021.
The current leader had set a three -year timetable culminating in Monday’s election to return the country to civilian democratic rule.
Mahamat who cast his vote in the capital Ndjamena has nine other challengers including Prime Minister Succès Masra who is considered a frontrunner.
A handful of presidential aspirants were barred from taking part after the constitutional council claimed some of their documents were forged.
Mahamat called on his compatriots to respond to the polls in their massive numbers, adding that he was happy to have led Chad to fullfilling its constitutional obligation throughout the transition.
At least 8 million Chadians have been registered to vote in an exercise critics of the transition have dismissed as a charade.