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Chad: Deby KIA


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Reuters have a short memorial

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Deby - who often joined soldiers on the battlefront in his military fatigues - visited troops on the frontline on Monday after rebels based across the northern frontier in Libya advanced hundreds of km (miles) south toward the capital N'Djamena. L1N2MC20E

"Marshal Idriss Deby Itno, as he did each time that the institutions of the republic were gravely threatened, took control of operations during the heroic combat led against the terrorists from Libya. He was wounded during the fighting and died once repatriated to N'Djamena," Bermendao said.

 

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It will all remain in the family. 

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Chad: Anger and uncertainty as slain president's son named interim leader

By Jon Shelton | 12h ago

In the wake of Idriss Deby's death on the battlefield Monday, the military has consolidated behind the longtime leader's son. He will assume broad powers but not everyone thinks that's a good thing.

Chad's presidency on Wednesday released a "transition charter" that will repeal the country's constitution and serve as the "basic law of the republic." The military council in temporary control had already announced that President Idriss Deby's son Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno would take over the reins of power in the Central African country after the killing of his father on Monday by rebels, but sought to solidify that position on Wednesday.

The younger Deby, a 37-year-old general, will now head a Military Transitional Council consisting of himself and 14 military leaders who were allies and supporters of his father. He has been named "Supreme Head of the Armed Forces" and will "occupy the functions of the president of the republic," as well as assuming the leadership of the councils of ministers and of defense.

Mahamat Idriss Debby Itno himself signed a decree on Tuesday tasking the military council with heading an 18-month transition toward "free and democratic elections."

'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."

The Elysee Palace said President Emmanuel Macron would attend Deby's funeral.

[...] 

Coup, or no coup?

The circumstances surrounding President Deby's death remain unclear, with some arguing it had been a coup rather than a rebel attack that ended his life. Those circumstances may never be resolved, still Chad expert Seidick Abba tells DW that what has happened since is unmistakable: "There is a constitutional mechanism for such instances [the transition of power after the death of a president] and it should have worked. The fact that the army decided to seize power and name Deby's son his successor is definitely a coup!"

Abba says that after 30 years of increasingly autocratic rule under Deby, who himself came to power in a 1990 coup, Chad has the chance to make a fresh start: "The way I see it, Chad has the opportunity to begin a new chapter after the end of the Deby years."

Some in the military agree. On Wednesday, General Idriss Abderamane Dicko, speaking for like-minded military officers, called on the army to disband the Military Transition Council: "We are many. We represent the national and republican armies [though not the presidential guard]. We have decided to support the will of the people and ask that you [the Military Transition Council] heed the wishes of the people and put the nation's sovereignty back in their hands. The role of the army is to support the people of Chad."  

https://m.dw.com/en/chad-anger-and-uncertainty-as-slain-presidents-son-named-interim-leader/a-57280756

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France changes stance on Chad, calls for civilian government

1h ago

President Emmanuel Macron has backtracked on previous comments where he supported a civilian-military transition in Chad. The African country is in a state of flux following the sudden death of President Idriss Deby.

France shifted its stance on the Chad crisis on Tuesday, no longer backing a civilian-military transition in Chad and instead calling for a civilian national unity government and for elections to be held within 18 months.

Following last week's death of President Idriss Deby, French President Emmanuel Macron was quick to lend his support for a civilian-military solution headed by the former leader's son Mahamat.

However, Macron has since backtracked on that support, after opposition groups said what was taking place in the former French colony was akin to a coup.

[...] 

Chad appoints transitional PM

Chad's so-called Transitional Military Council (TMC) led by Deby's 37-year-old son Mahamat named Albert Pahimi Padacke, a distant runner-up in the April 11 presidential vote, as the country's transitional prime minister.

Meanwhile, Macron called on the TMC to honor its commitment to "a peaceful and politically inclusive transition," warning that France, the former colonial power in Chad, was opposed to any attempt to simply designate Deby's successor.

"I am not in favor of a planned succession," Macron said.

Deby, who had been in power for three decades, was killed on April 19 while visiting troops fighting rebels.

https://m.dw.com/en/france-changes-stance-on-chad-calls-for-civilian-government/a-57352559

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  • 3 months later...
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Date 05.08.2021

Chad: Dozens of soldiers dead after jihadi attack

Chadian soldiers were attacked while patrolling the volatile Lake Chad region. Both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are active in the area.

At least 26 Chadian soldiers were killed after they were reportedly ambushed by jihadis while on patrol in the volatile Lake Chad region, the Chadian military said Thursday. 

"Twenty-six members of the Chadian army fell on the field of honor, 14 others have been wounded, including eight seriously," army spokesperson General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said. "Several terrorists were neutralized and cleanup operations continue."

The attack reportedly took place on Wednesday at the Lake Chad island of Tchoukou Telia.

Which group could be behind the attack?

The military blames Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram for the attack, but the region is also home to a rival splinter group called the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Lake Chad borders: Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.

Boko Haram began its insurgency in 2009 in northeastern Nigeria and gained a notorious reputation for its mass kidnapping of schoolgirls. The group later expanded its operations to neighboring countries. 

ISWAP has fought Boko Haram over territory in the region. After Boko Haram leader Abubaker Shekau died in May, a video showed Boko Haram members switching their allegiance to ISWAP. 

According to the UN, some 30,000 people have died since the beginning of Boko Haram's 12-year insurgency. The fighting has displaced millions of people.  

[...]

https://www.dw.com/en/chad-dozens-of-soldiers-dead-after-jihadi-attack/a-58775413

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