The election results were released earlier than planned, and Deby Itno's victory was met with gunfire in the capital.

The election, which was Chad's first since three years of military rule, was widely expected for Deby Itno to win.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, also known as Deby, took power in Chad after his father, who had ruled for three decades, was killed in 2021.

Deby was announced as the winner of the 2024 presidential election with 61.03% of the votes.

However, opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo, also known as Masra, accused the authorities of manipulating the outcome and claimed victory in a speech hours before the announcement.

Chad, an oil-exporting country of nearly 18 million people, has not had a peaceful transfer of power since gaining independence from France in 1960.

In a speech, the president of Chad's opposition party, Masra, urged the military, police, and other security forces to disobey orders from President Deby Itno.

He warned that following these orders would lead to fighting against brothers and sisters and committing unforgivable acts.

There was no response from Deby Itno's office.

In October 2022, Masra and several other opposition parties were suspended by the military government during protests against Deby Itno's decision to extend his term in power.

Over 60 people were killed in the protests, which the government labeled as an attempted coup.

Masra had fled Chad prior to the speech.

Last year, Chad's minister of reconciliation reached an agreement with Masra's political party, enabling the exiled opposition leader and other figures to return to Chad.

Masra was later appointed prime minister.

Chad is considered a stable ally by the US and France in the Sahel region, where military coups have occurred in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

These ruling juntas have since expelled French forces and sought security assistance from Russian mercenary units.