Chad votes in first Sahel presidential poll since wave of coups

Chadian soldiers cast early votes in the presidential election scheduled for May 6 in N’djamena, Chad, May 5, 2024. REUTERS/Desire Danga Essigue

N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chadians go to the polls on Monday three years after their military leader seized power, in the first presidential election in Africa's Sahel region since a wave of coups.

Analysts say Mahamat Idriss Deby, who seized power the day rebels killed his long-ruling father Idriss Deby in April 2021, is most likely to win, although his chief opponent has been drawing larger-than-expected crowds on the campaign trail.