Chad’s Prime Minister Succes Masra has resigned, weeks after losing to military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby in a contentious presidential election.
Masra, appointed head of the transitional government in January to appease opposition forces, stepped down after Deby was confirmed as the election winner with 61% of the vote.
Masra, a vocal critic of the military regime that took power in April 2021, secured 18.5% of the vote and disputed the election’s fairness.
Despite his claims, the Constitutional Council upheld Deby’s victory, and Masra acknowledged there were no further legal avenues to challenge the results.
This election marks Chad’s first attempt to return to constitutional rule since the military coup that followed the death of long-time President Idriss Deby Itno in 2021.
The country has a turbulent history of coups and conflicts since its independence from France in 1960.
