Chad’s president of three decades has died of wounds suffered during a visit to frontline troops battling a shadowy rebel group, the military has announced, hours after he was declared the winner of an election that would have given him another six years in power.
While the military quickly named President Idriss Deby Itno’s son as the country’s interim leader, the rebel group claiming responsibility for his death vowed to continue its fight for the capital setting the stage for a potentially bloody battle for political control of the oil-producing central African nation.
“Chad is not a monarchy. There can be no dynastic devolution of power in our country,” the rebels said in a statement late on Tuesday. “The forces of the Front for Change and Concord are heading toward N’Djamena at this very moment. With confidence, but above all with courage and determination.”
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Chad’s longtime leader has died of wounds suffered during a visit to frontline troops battling a little-known rebel group, the military said.
The announcement came just hours after President Idriss Deby Itno was declared the winner of an election that would have given him another six years in power.
The military quickly announced Mr Deby’s son as the central African nation’s interim leader, succeeding his 68-year-old father, who ruled for more than three decades.
Some observers immediately questioned the chain of events leading up to Tuesday’s stunning announcement on national radio and television.
Chad army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna announces the death of Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno on state television (Tele Tchad via AP)