Yaoundé, Cameroon—

Opposition candidates have accused Chad’s military ruler, General Mohamed Idriss Deby, of flouting electoral rules and launching their campaigns ahead of the official start date of April 14.

Transitional President Deby, who took power after his father’s death in 2021, is trying to consolidate his rule with victory in Chad’s presidential election on May 6.

The general said on state television on Wednesday that if elected as Chad’s president, he would maintain peace and develop the Central African country, adding that he would fight what he called endemic poverty by creating jobs and funding agricultural projects for youth.

Hundreds of people applauded when Deby told them that more than 200 opposition parties and about 1,000 civil society groups, mostly from Deby’s Patriotic Salvation Movement party, had agreed to support him.

Deby encouraged them to start campaigning for him immediately.

Lydie Beassemda, presidential candidate of the Chadian Party for Democracy and Total Independence, accused Deby of launching his campaign early and disrespecting Chad’s electoral norms.

April 14 is the start date of the campaign determined by Chad’s Constitutional Council.

Bessemda said nine opposition challengers informed the country’s electoral management body that Deby had launched his campaign early. The agency said it was investigating several complaints from opposition candidates but gave no details.

Bessemda urged Chad’s 8 million registered voters not to be intimidated by Deby, who hopes to continue the role of his father, Idriss Deby Itno.

Deby, 37, was declared leader of the junta after killing his father in 2021 after more than 30 years in power. May’s presidential election means a transition back to democracy.

Deby initially promised an 18-month transition period after taking power. He later appointed himself head of the transitional government. Opposition parties say he used the military to suppress opposition.

Opposition candidates have urged Chadian people to remain vigilant and report suspected electoral fraud to the national electoral management body. They also called the international community’s attention to Deby’s conduct of the campaign before its official start date and its lack of respect for democratic norms.

The nine candidates challenging Deby in the election, including democrat Success Masra, who is now transitional prime minister, have said Deby does not want to lose his family’s grip on power.

Deby said he would respect the vote and hand over power if it failed.

The Constitutional Council is scheduled to hold the first round of voting on May 6 and the second round on June 22.