Casualties Reported in Chad Amid Gunfire Celebrating Deby's Election Win

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, gunfire erupted in N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad, as supporters celebrated interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby's declared victory in the presidential election. The celebratory gunfire resulted in several injuries and around 10 deaths, including children, according to Amnesty International researcher Abdoulaye Diarra.

Why this matters: The violent aftermath of the election in Chad raises concerns about the country's stability and the legitimacy of its political transition. The incident also highlights the need for African nations to ensure peaceful and transparent democratic processes, which is crucial for regional security and development.

The National Agency for Election Management (ANGE) declared Deby the winner of the May 6 election with 61.03% of the vote. However, his main challenger, Succes Masra, rejected the results, calling them "fabricated" and a "masquerade." Masra's party, Transformateurs, claimed they had evidence that Masra had won the election, stating, "We have the evidence and Chadians all know it."

The health ministry reported that several people were hurt, some severely, and ordered hospitals to take urgent steps to help the worst cases. Madjissem Neldjibaye, a resident of N'Djamena's 9th district, was injured by a falling bullet while lying in bed. He described the chaotic scene at the hospital, saying, "To get to the hospital, I had to leave the house at 1 a.m. because people were shooting in all directions. I couldn't get out."

The election was marked by controversy, including the killing of opposition figure Yaya Dillo in February and the omission of prominent opposition politicians from the candidate list. Critics argue that these issues undermined the credibility of the vote. Deby, a 40-year-old officer, came to power after his father, Idriss Deby, was killed in April 2021. The junta, led by Deby, promised to return power to civilians but extended the 18-month transition and allowed Deby to run for president, sparking criticism from civil society.

The United Nations Special Representative in Central Africa, Abdou Abarry, called on all parties to show restraint following the violence. On Friday, the capital city was calm, with a heavy police presence, including convoys of vehicles filled with men in camouflage fatigues patrolling the nearly empty streets. Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of 17 million, is the first of the coup-hit countries in West and Central Africa to stage a return to constitutional rule via the ballot box.