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The Chadian military has successfully executed what could be described as a coup following the death of President Idriss Deby on Tuesday.
Mr Deby, 68, died on Tuesday from injuries sustained while leading the military in a battle against insurgents, the army said.
Rather than follow the constitutional provision that mandates the speaker of the parliament to hold office for 40 days in the case of the death of the president, the army said it was dissolving the Chadian parliament, suspending the constitution and naming Mr Idris’ son, Mahamat Kaka, interim president of the country.
The 37-year-old Mr Kaka, a major-general in the Chadian army, will now lead a military council for an 18 months transition period, army spokesperson, Azem Agouna, said.
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He was reported dead on Tuesday, a day after he won re-election for a sixth term in office.
The Chadian national army confirmed his death from gunshot injuries in a fight with rebels.
The president was commanding his army in the battle against rebel forces in the far north over the weekend.
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There has been a prolonged battle in the African country between government forces and the rebel Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT).
The unrest had escalated in recent days as anti-government fighters approached N’Djamena, the capital city.
Azem Agouna, a spokesman of the Chadian army, said in a broadcast that the late leader “breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield”.
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