Idriss Déby is dead, Mahamat Déby in power, Chad closes its borders

President Idriss Deby Itno, re-elected with 79.32% of the votes cast, will unfortunately not seek a sixth term at the head of Chad. He came to power in a coup d’état in 1990 and died on Tuesday from injuries sustained while commanding his army in fighting against FACT rebels in the north over the weekend, a spokesman announced on state television. Chad is closing its borders.

Chad and the G5 Sahel are in mourning. Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno died of wounds received on the front, the army said on state television on Tuesday. The man who led the country for 30 years had been re-elected for a sixth term with 79.32% of the votes cast, according to official results released Monday evening. It is his son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno alias « Mahamat Kaka », head of the presidential guard, who was appointed as his successor.

« The President of the Republic, Head of State, Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces, Idriss Déby Itno has just breathed his last while defending territorial integrity on the battlefield. It is with deep bitterness that we announce to the Chadian people the death this Tuesday, April 20, 2021 of the Marshal of Chad Idriss Deby Itno, » announced in a statement on national television, the spokesman of the army, General Azem Bermandoa Agouna.

A transitional military council (CMT) has been set up. Lieutenant General Mahamat Idriss Déby, who is none other than the son of the Marshal, is the president of the CMT. A national transitional charter will be promulgated later. For the time being, a 14-day national mourning period has been declared throughout the country. A nationwide curfew from 6pm to 5am has been introduced. Land and air borders are closed until further notice.