Chad’s President Dies On ‘Battlefield’: Army

Chad’s President Idriss Deby, who has been in power for 30 years, has died of injuries while visiting troops on the frontline of a battle against rebels in the north of the country, an army spokesperson said in a televised statement. Deby’s son Gen Mahamat Kaka has been named the interim head of state.

Deby, 68, was reelected for the sixth time, according to provisional results of the April 11 elections declared on Monday. He won over 79 per cent of the vote; former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacke came a distant second, bagging 10.32 per cent of vote. Deby had campaigned on the promise of peace and security in a region overrun with insurgency.

Deby had put off his victory speech to supporters, choosing to visit soldiers battling insurgents. He breathed his last ‘defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield, the army said.