Chad's Déby to win sixth term as army fights rebels

Chad’s long-time leader, Idriss Déby, has secured almost 80% of votes in provisional results following the presidential election.

Opposition leaders boycotted the election alleging violence by the security forces, leading to the deaths of five members of politician Yaya Dillo's family, plus brutal crackdowns on protests.

The results tallied so far put President Déby on track for a sixth consecutive term, extending his 30 years in power.

There have been celebrations in the capital, N'Djamena. 

"Our candidate Idriss Déby Itno won the first round of the presidential election. We see this as a double victory because he also managed to expel the terrorists from our territory.

"We want peace, nothing but peace. May the people remain calm, for as long as our Marshal [Déby] lives we will live in security," a supporter who believes that Chad will be safer under Mr Deby, said.

Mr Déby’s campaign manager said the president would have liked to celebrate with his supporters but was instead with his troops engaged in fighting insurgents.

The Chadian military have said they repulsed advancing rebels at the weekend, killing more than 300 - a figure that cannot be verified independently.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP