Presidential vote set to end military rule in Chad

N'DJAMENA, May 06 (BBC): Chad is set to become the first of Africa's current junta-led states to move to democratic rule with Monday's presidential vote. It will end a three-year transition imposed after the sudden death of long-serving leader Idriss Déby Itno while fighting rebels.
But as his son, and successor, Gen Mahamat Déby is one of the favourites to win, there is some scepticism about whether this will bring about change. Prime Minister Succès Masra is among his nine challengers and is seen as his biggest rival.
The start of voting was marked by delays, with polls opening an hour behind schedule in some areas. President Déby kicked off the exercise by casting his ballot in the capital, N'Djamena. He said he was proud to have fulfilled his promise to respect the deadline for "elections that will signal a return to constitutional order."
"It's up to the Chadian people to vote massively and choose their president," he added. Mr Masra wore a blue boubou, or traditional gown, as he voted, reports the AFP news agency.
"All those who have shown they want massive change must go and vote in massive numbers, peacefully," he said after voting. "We will vote. It's our duty… even if it takes time," one voter told the BBC as he stood in a long queue waiting to cast his ballot.
Ten other politicians who had been hoping to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, were excluded by the constitutional council because of "irregularities". For example, Mr Koursami was accused of forgery.
But some have argued that the decision to bar certain people was politically motivated. Another potential opponent, Yaya Dillo, was killed by security forces in February while allegedly leading an attack on the National Security Agency in the capital, N'Djamena.