Chad’s newly re-elected president dies on the front line | Abroad

The army said on Monday it had repelled an insurgent attack on the capital N’Djamena. Déby was initially going to give a speech claiming the election win, but first went to the front lines to cheer up soldiers and join the fight in the north of the country against “terrorists threatening our territory.”

It concerns the rebel group ‘Fact’, which operates from neighboring Libya and has been advancing south in recent weeks. The US had called on non-essential diplomatic staff to leave the country on Saturday.

Just reelected

On Monday, preliminary election results showed that 68-year-old Déby can start a sixth term as head of state. The elections had been boycotted by the main opposition leaders.

Idriss Déby came to power in 1990. Western countries saw him as supportive in the fight against Islamic extremists such as Boko Haram, IS and al-Qaeda. The armed forces are taking over with a military council led by his 37-year-old son, a four-star general called Mahamat Kaka.

The army immediately imposed a curfew and closed the borders. The government and parliament have been dissolved. The armed forces promise “free and democratic” elections after an 18-month transition period.

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