Chadian President Idriss Deby has died while visiting troops on the front lines of a battle against northern rebels, an army spokesman said Tuesday the day after Deby was declared the winner of a presidential election.
Deby (68) came to power in a rebellion in 1990 and was one of the longest reigning leaders in Africa.
His campaign on Monday said he was joining forces calling the terrorists after rebels advanced across the northern border in Libya hundreds of kilometers south to the capital N’Djamena. [L1N2MC20E]
The cause of death was not yet clear.
Army spokesman Azem Bermendao Agouna announced his death in a state television broadcast, surrounded by a group of military officers he named as the National Council of Transition.
“A call for dialogue and peace is being launched to all Chadians at home and abroad to continue to build Chad together,” he said.
“The National Council of Transition reassures the Chadian people that all measures have been taken to guarantee peace, security and the republican order.”
Western countries have seen Deby as an ally in the fight against Islamic extremist groups, including Boko Haram in the Chad Sea basin and groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Sahel.
Deby also faced growing public discontent over his management of Chad’s oil wealth and the repression of opponents.
His victory in the election gave him a sixth term, but the April 11 vote was boycotted by opposition leaders.
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