Chad‘s interim President Mahamat Idriss Déby has started campaigning for the presidential elections meant to restore his country to democratic civilian rule. He will face nine other candidates in the poll scheduled for 6 May, including the junta-appointed Prime Minister Succès Masra.
“You know me, I am soldier and I hold my promises,” Reuters news agency quoted Mr Déby as saying at his first campaign rally in the capital, N’Djamena. He pledged to strengthen security and guarantee Chad’s peace and stability.
Mr Déby initially promised an 18-month transition to democratic rule, after he seized power in 2021, following the death of his father.
But he later postponed the elections until this year, triggering protests that were violently suppressed by security forces. Mr Déby is widely expected to win the election, which some opposition politicians have branded “a farce”.
His main rival, opposition leader Yaya Dillo, was killed in a shootout with security forces on 28 February. The government had blamed him for a deadly attack on the country’s security agency, which he denied. The Constitutional Court also barred 10 other candidates from vying last month, including two vocal junta critics.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Zahara’s family to host a concert to save her house
The family of late multi-platinum-selling singer Zahara – real name Bulelwa Mkutukana – is organising a concert to raise funds to buy back her Roodepoort house.
According to The Dispatch Live, the house – which the Loliwe hitmaker tried to save in 2022 – was close to her heart. Read more
