Chad’s Prime Minister Masra has stepped down following a controversial election, with Deby being officially declared the winner

Succes Masra, the opposition leader of Chad, has submitted his resignation following the confirmation of temporary President Mahamat Idriss Deby as the victor of the presidential election held on May 6th. Masra made this announcement on Wednesday.

Masra, a vehement adversary of the junta that took control in April 2021, was designated as the prime minister of the interim government in January, preceding the election by four months, as a measure to mollify the opposition.

In March, his candidacy was approved for the presidential election with the aim of restoring constitutional governance in the country. The oil-producing nation is the initial among a series of states in West and Central Africa’s Sahel region, which have been affected by coups, to endeavor such a comeback.

Prior to the formal declaration of preliminary results, Masra asserted triumph, citing the orchestration of electoral malpractice.

The electoral commission of Chad said that Deby emerged as the clear victor in the state election, garnering 61% of the total votes. Subsequently, the constitutional council officially validated his triumph.

Masra has accepted the council’s decision and stated that there are no further legal avenues to challenge the results.

“Following the conclusion of the presidential election on May 6, I have adhered to the constitution by submitting my resignation, as well as the resignation of the transitional government, which has lost its significance,” stated Masra on X, Wednesday.

Deby’s triumph extends the reign of the dynasty that has had a strong hold on authority since Deby’s father seized power in a coup during the early 1990s.