Chad’s interim president, Mahamat Idriss Déby, has announced he will run in this year’s long-awaited presidential race.

His candidacy was endorsed by representatives of the political groups that make up his coalition, For a United Chad, which claims to include over 200 parties.

The military leader’s announcement comes just three days after his main rival in the polls, Yaya Dillo, was shot and killed in the capital N’Djamena in suspicious circumstances.

Déby seized power in 2021 following the death of his long-ruling father, Idriss Déby Itno, who was killed in clashes with rebels.

He was sworn in 2022, promising a return to civilian rule within 18 months, but subsequently extended the transition by two years.