General Mahamat Idriss Deby had been tipped to take over Chad’s leadership from his father some day. But the elder Deby’s death on the battlefield has meant…
Chad s new President Deby: Son inherits crisis as well as leadership reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Uncertainties grip Chad in wake of ‘institutional coup d’état’
The shock demise of the 68-year-old led to immediate concerns of a power vacuum in Chad, which sits at the heart of the troubled Sahel region and is key to the West’s anti-jihadist efforts.
Thursday 22/04/2021
Video grab shows Mahamat Idriss Deby, 37, the son of slain Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, at the announcement of the death of his father in N’Djamena. (AFP)
N’DJAMENA Chad faced an uncertain future Wednesday as the son of slain leader Idriss Deby Itno took power in what the opposition called a coup and Western allies that rely on the country’s military strength pleaded for stability.
Slain Chad president s son takes reins of power Consequences of President Deby s death cannot be underestimated
The move, which followed the controversial re-election of the elder Deby to a sixth presidential term on Sunday and his killing just hours later on Monday, have raised concerns that the country, and ultimately the entire region, could fall into a state of violent chaos. The potentially explosive consequences of President Deby s death cannot be underestimated both for the future of Chad and across the region, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement.
France, the former colonial ruler of what is today Chad, is also keenly watching developments, with Defense Minister Florence Parly saying, What s central to us now is that a process of democratic transition can be implemented and the stability of Chad preserved.