Chad’s transitional leader General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno candidate for 2024 elections

Mouvement Patriotique du Salut [Patriotic Salvation Movement] (MPS), the ruling party in Chad, has chosen General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, son of the former country leader and party founder Idriss Déby Itno, as candidate of the movement for the presidential elections slated this year in the central African country.

The MPS held from Saturday its 11th congress in the build-up to the presidential polls that will help choose a replacement to Idriss Déby Itno, who died in 2021 reportedly at a war front against rebels.

“The transitional President, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, is named honorary president and future candidate of the MPS (Mouvement Patriotique du Salut) for the next presidential election by a resolution of congress participants,” Mariam Djimet Ibet, the President of the congress organizing committee told reporters.

Chadians will head to polls late this year 2024, following the adoption of a new Constitution in December 2023 at a referendum as result of an agreement brokered by Qatar between the opposition, Civil society and a junta led by the 37-year old General that seized power following Idriss Déby Itno’s death.

A group of Civil society organizations and part of the opposition rejected the referendum arguing that it will clear the way for young top military commander to maintain himself in power.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno is likely to face Succès Masra, the current Prime Minister and top figure of the opposition. Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno named Masra early this month the country’s new Premier. The latter also last week unveiled his plans to run for this year’s presidential elections.