Cheng Jing, a journalist from the Oriental Network
On the 20th local time, the Chadian Army announced that the country's president Idris Déby was seriously injured and died in the clash with the rebels. Just a day ago, Déby announced that he had won the Chadian general election earlier this month and was about to begin his sixth presidential term.
(Pictured: Déby at the presidential palace in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.) Figure/AP)
A Chadian army spokesman said on state television that day that Déby had died of his wounds while inspecting troops at the front. A rebel group known as the Chadian Front for Change and Concorde (FACT) has been advancing in recent days from the north toward the capital, N'Djamena. The group, which has sought to overthrow Déby's government since 2016, said a spokesman said it had taken over a military garrison in the north on Friday, a claim denied by the Chadian government, which said it had defeated the rebels.
After Déby's death, the Chadian government and parliament have been dissolved, and army spokesman Aguna said a military council would lead Chad over the next 18 months "to ensure that our homeland is free from terrorism and enemy threats." He said Déby's 37-year-old son, General Mahammat Idriss Deby, would chair the transition committee.
(Pictured: Déby's 37-year-old son, General Mahammat Idriss Déby.) Photo/AFP/Getty Images)
The Chadian Army declared a 14-day period of national mourning and imposed a curfew nationwide. Both land and air borders will be closed until further notice.
Déby: Regional Security "Moderator"
Chad is located in Central Africa, bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic, Cameroon and Nigeria from east to west, and the Niger to the west.
The armed group that the army was fighting this time was the Chadian Front for Change and Concorde (FACT). Founded in 2016 in northern Chad to overthrow the Chadian government, the group is currently based in Libya and has long been entrenched in northern Chad, along the border with Libya, often clashing with Chadian government forces.
On the day of the April 11 general election, FACT reportedly attacked a checkpoint on Chad's northern border, while Chadian government forces responded. Since Election Day, THE FACT, which had previously dominated the north, has advanced hundreds of kilometers toward the southern capital, According to Reuters. But about 300 kilometers from the capital, N'Djamena, Chadian government forces fended off the FACT attack.
Chad not only has a domestic rebel "turmoil", but also faces a regional security threat. Chad has formed a coalition with Nigeria and Cameroon to combat the extremist group Boko Haram. Boko Haram is a Nigerian Islamic fundamentalist organization that advocates becoming part of the "caliphate" through "jihad" and being dubbed the "Taliban of Nigeria" by the outside world. Since 2015, the group has repeatedly crossed the border to attack Chadian military targets.
Since Chad is an important country in the fight against terrorist organizations in the Sahel region of Africa, the United States and France have long supported Déby's government. Chad was once a French colony, where France currently has 5,000 troops stationed to fight al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb and other armed groups.
Analysts worry that Déby's death could exacerbate regional unrest.
Undp Offinan Nigeria Representative Mohammed Yahya said in an interview with CNN that Déby played the role of "security moderator" in Central Africa and that under Déby's leadership, the Chadian government had carried out a strong crackdown on Boko Haram. In the worst case scenario, if there is a Libyan-style "political disintegration" in the country's political situation, the flow of weapons into the hands of Boko Haram will have an impact on the security situation in neighboring countries.
Yahya expressed the hope that the international community will support Chad and ensure a smooth transition of power.
After Déby's death, the U.S. Embassy in Chad has asked Americans in the country to "take refuge in place" in case of potential unrest, and has called on Americans to leave the country on commercial flights as soon as possible, CNN reported.
The Chinese Embassy in Chad issued a statement on the 18th of this month, urgently reminding all Chinese citizens and institutions in Chad to closely follow the local current affairs, minimize travel as much as possible, do not go to the northern region, keep communications open, make a good reserve of daily necessities, and ensure the safety of people and property. In case of emergency, please contact the Embassy in time.
African political strongman
Déby trained as a licensed pilot in France and later as commander-in-chief of chadian security forces. In 1990, Déby staged a coup d'état to overthrow the government of then-President Habré and came to power, serving as president for 30 years, making him one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.
In 2018, Déby introduced a new constitution that allowed him to remain in power until 2033. On 19 April, Déby was elected President of Chad with 79 percent support, about to begin his sixth term. The New York Times reported that that night, supporters in the capital, N'Djamena, fired their guns into the air to celebrate Déby's election.
(Pictured: Former President of Chad, Déby.) Figure/AFP)
Déby's campaign team said on the same day that Déby would go to the front line to fight with the army and fight terrorists. There are no details about Déby's attack, nor is there any report explaining why Déby went to the front lines of battle when the conflict intensified.
After Déby's death, his 37-year-old son, General Mahan Mart, was appointed chairman of the Military Transition Committee and will run the country for the next three years. The move has been criticized domestically in Chad, with some analysts calling it a "coup" because, under the Chadian constitution, the first vice-president should be temporarily elected president after his death.
(Pictured: Military tanks near the Presidential Palace in N'Djamena, chad capital, on April 19.) Photo: Reuters)
General Mahanmat still has to face the anti-government forces that threatened his father. A spokesman for the FACT organization said on social media on the evening of the 20th that its armed forces have marched to the capital, "Chad is not a monarchy country." There should be no dynastic succession of power in our country. ”
Analysts point out that because it is consistent with Chad's goal of fighting terrorism in Central Africa, the United States usually turns a deaf ear to the criticism of Déby's authoritarian rule. The U.S. military has less than 70 troops stationed in Chad, providing training and equipment support to the Chadian military.
During Déby's three decades as president, he was repeatedly threatened by anti-government forces. Rebels led by Déby's nephew marched to N'Djamena in 2006 and 2008, respectively, but Déby's government forces repelled the rebels with "prudent support" from France.