YAOUNDE, Chad

Chad's opposition leader and acting interim Prime Minister Succes Masra claimed Thursday to have won the May 6 presidential election in the first round.

The 40-year-old Masra, one of two key candidates in the election, said in a video message shared on his social media account that he emerged as the winner of the elections against his rival, transitional President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.

"Thanks to you, we have won as a people. We received 90% of the precinct results, confirming our victory in the first round. You won the election for us in the first round," said Masra, addressing the people of Chad.

it is reported that there has been an unusual deployment of soldiers in the streets of the capital, N'Djamena. Soldiers are said to be present at some key points in the city.

Following the death of President Idriss Deby Itno on the battlefield in April 2021, his son, Mahamat, was appointed to lead the Transitional Military Council, consisting of 15 generals.

Assuming office as the transitional president, he appointed former opposition politician Masra as the prime minister of the interim government on Jan. 1 this year.

Masra fled the country in 2022 due to political pressures but returned to Chad in November 2023 following the mediation of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi.

As the leader of The Transformers party, Masra supported the transitional president during the referendum on a new constitution.