Mahamat Déby, Chad’s military ruler, has been declared winner of the presidential poll, legitimising the continuation of his family’s 34-year grip on power.

According to Chad’s National Election Management Agency on Thursday, General Déby won 61.3 per cent of the vote to defeat his closest rival, Prime Minister Succès Masra, who won 18.53 per cent.

Mr Déby, 40, took over the country’s leadership after his father, former President Idriss Déby Itno, was killed in a gun battle against a rebel group in April 2021.

As interim ruler, he served for 18 months, which was later extended until an election was conducted to legitimise his stay in power.

His electoral victory would see him legally continue his family’s 34-year firm grip on power in Chad Republic, following his father, who ruled for 30 years, from 1990 to 2021, when he was killed after his sixth presidential victory.

His father, Mr Itno, overthrew Hissène Habré in 1990 and remained in power for three decades until his death at 68.

“I am now the elected president of all Chadians,” Mr Déby said in a brief victory speech on Thursday. “I have a special thought for the unfortunate candidates who have lost the competition.”

However, Mr Déby’s closest rival in the election, Mr Masra, claimed he won the election, rejecting Mr Déby victory.

“To all Chadians who voted for change, who voted for me, I say: mobilise. Do it calmly, with a spirit of peace,” Mr Masra said in a Facebook broadcast.

Berating Mr Déby dynasty for holding on to power, Mr Masra said, “A small number of individuals believe they can make people believe that the election was won by the same system that has been ruling Chad for decades.”

Like his father, Mr Déby has been criticised for a clampdown on the opposition. Some voices of opposition are still exiled after the military clampdown during the 2022 protests.

Earlier in the year, Mr Deby’s top rival was killed. Yaya Dillo Djerou, a leading voice against Chad’s junta, was shot dead in an army raid on his party headquarters.

Chad’s constitutional council disqualified 10 other politicians from the presidential race over claims of “irregularities,” a decision that was adjudged politically motivated.