Chad president killed on frontline visiting troops days after re-election

THE president of Chad died today after a clash between the country's army and rebels at the border.

Idriss Deby, 68 - who has been the head of state of more than 30 years - died from injuries sustained in the battle, an army spokesperson confirmed.

Deby "has just breathed his last breath defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield," army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on state television.

The army said a military council led by the late president's 37-year-old son Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, a four-star general, would replace him as leader of Chad.

Deby is believed to be the first sitting head of state to die in battle - rather than in a coup - since Paraguay’s Francisco Solano López in 1870.

Deby came to power during a rebellion in 1990, and won a sixth term just days ago.

He gained 79.3 per cent of the vote in an election on April 11, although it was boycotted by opposition leaders.

He was due to give a victory speech to his supporters but decided to visit soldiers on the front lines instead.

His campaign director Mahamat Zen Bada said: "The candidate would have liked to have been here to celebrate.

"But right now, he is alongside our valiant defence and security forces to fight the terrorists threatening our territory."

His campaign said on Monday he was joining troops battling what he called terrorists after rebels based across the northern frontier in Libya advanced hundreds of miles south toward the capital N'Djamena.

The cause of his death is not yet clear.

Continue reading
Idriss Deby dead – Chad president, 68, killed on frontline visiting troops battling rebels days after being re-elected

From Brexit breaking news to HD movie trailers, The Sun newspaper brings you the latest news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world.

Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know

[BabsW]

Something seems fishy here. Was he set-up?

[ConicalRamirez]

That guy on the left at 0:39 has forgotten to take his swimming goggles off

[Majk]

first Tanzania now Chad everyone see whats going on

[constantinvaldor]

Chad has a strong military. It was a coup

[The-rk]

Reminds me of that movie the gladiator when the son kills his emperor father after his father wins the battle and frames it on the general

[Jojohumf]

Another puppet down another will take his place

[mrhouse]

You're not a conspiracy theorist - you're a critical thinker! Think about this folks

[SZMIDEL]

Those soldiers sitting at 0:56...are they Chad troops or militants POWs?...the guy in the centre is shell shocked to oblivion!

[QANews]

That's what you get when politics tries to use the military for a promotional opportunity to improve public approval ratings, when you go to war the leader should go to the bunker & strategize; not fraternize.

[tasneemahmedkhan]

RIP. May Almighty GOD given Higher place in Paradise.

[wowowoogie]

That guy in the back row just get back from swimming lessons or something???

[_mokosh_]

we need more of that, politicians are insane

[redbeard]

Can't Boris go on the front line in Afghanistan

[kavule]

I wish the same happens to Museveni of Uganda, God has saved the people of Chad

[hexf]

The title of the video looks exactly like something you'd see on the meme

[whataplonker]

I wonder who orchestrated this I wonder🤔

[Mike_]

Bad wardrobe day for him choosing to be the only one all in white ...

[andrewdodd]

They did it .ya can see it a mile away ..

[acmusic]

Sad to see this. But now that your president is gone, can you please change the flag colours? Romania had it before chad was even a country... Blue stands for Transylvania, yellow stands for Vallachia, and red stands for Moldavia (Moldova). 3 countries united to form Romania and that is how we got the flag. Now as your president died, change the flag...

[ravercorum]

The chad president vs the virgin rebels