VOTERS in Chad went to the polls today as the nation is set to become the first of Africa's current military-led countries to adopt democratic rule.

The election concludes three years of transition after the death of long-serving ruler Idriss Deby while fighting rebel forces.

But many in the country are sceptical that any real change is about to take place.

The former president’s son, General Mahamat Deby, is the favourite among the 10 candidates for the presidency.

General Deby told France 24 TV: “If I am elected, I will serve my five-year term and at the end of my term, it will be up to the people to judge me.”

Prime Minister Succes Masra, likely to be Mr Deby’s biggest rival, urged Chadians to vote for him to end six decades of “obscurity and darkness.”

Ten others hoping to run were excluded by the constitutional council because of alleged “irregularities.” 

But some of the would-be candidates have claimed they were excluded for political reasons, while other opposition figures have called for a boycott of the election.

The results are expected to be released by May 21, but a second round could be held in June if no candidate wins more than 50 per cent in the first round.