President Tinubu Congratulates Chad’s President-elect Déby, As He Stresses Mutual Cooperation

President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to Mahamat Déby, the President-elect of the Republic of Chad, following his victory in the recent elections.

The felicitation was conveyed in a statement issued by Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Tinubu.

In the statement titled ‘President Tinubu congratulates President-elect of the Republic of Chad, Mahamat Déby, on election victory,’ Tinubu affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with Chad to promote peace, security, and shared prosperity for both nations.

The provisional election results released by Chad’s electoral authority on May 9 revealed Déby’s win with over 61 percent of the vote, while his main rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, contested the outcome, garnering only 18.5 percent of the votes.

Tinubu praised Chad’s commitment to democracy and orderly transitions, underscoring the importance of sustained friendly cooperation between the two countries.

The elections, held on May 6, 2024, marked a significant step in Chad’s transition from military to democratic rule following the death of long-time leader Idriss Déby in April 2021. His son, Mahamat Idriss Déby, assumed leadership under a transitional military council and later became a prominent candidate in the elections, vowing to continue his father’s legacy.

However, the electoral process was shadowed by political tension and concerns regarding transparency and fairness. Prime Minister Masra, prior to the announcement of results, accused authorities of planning to manipulate the outcome, urging citizens to resist unjust orders.