N’DJAMENA, AUGUST 9, 2016 (CISA) – President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, has been sworn in for a fifth consecutive five-year term, following his April 10 electoral victory that was contested by the opposition.
During the swearing in ceremony that was held on August 8 in the capital N’Djamena, and attended by 14 other African leaders, the 64-year-old leader appealed to all citizens, “wherever they may be, that regardless of our differences, we should work together to rebuild our nation,” reported AFP.
Speaking after being sworn in by the president of Chad’s Constitutional Council Nagoum Yamassoum, President Deby further promised “a relentless battle against terrorism everywhere it threatens our interests and our security.”
He pledged to continue with the work of modernizing the country’s infrastructure and maintain peace and security saying: “The next five years will be characterized by reforms both in our judiciary as well as in the public administration.” He further promised to ensure his country achieves economic development by promoting transparency in the spending of public resources.
President Deby, who came to power in 1990 after overthrowing the then president Hissene Habre, won the April 10, 2016 elections in the first round with 59.92 percent of the votes against almost 13 percent for opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo according to the national election commission.
The former army commander first won elections in 1996 and 2001 and after term limits were eliminated, he won again in 2006 and 2011.
