Riots break out: Protests Sparked as Chadian President Reelected for the sixth term

Idriss Deby Itno has now been reelected as the President of Chad as now of Saturday. Mr. Itno has now been in power for 30 years. It was made possible after he pushed through a new constitution in 2018- allowing him to run again.

On Saturday, hundreds of protesters called on by the opposition took to the capital N’Djamena. Reports said police fired teargas and protesters burned tires while chanting “No to a sixth term!”

The 68-year-old former army officer was voted in, in 1990 and has remained in power since. Mr. Itno has been accused of trying to create a monarchy as he closely controls the media and institutions.

But the international community sees him as an essential ally in the fight against Islamist militants in West and Central Africa and one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali.