The death of the re-elected president of Chad on the front line | abroad

On Monday, the army said it had repelled a militant attack on the capital, N’Djamena. Deby was initially going to deliver a speech claiming victory in the election, but first he went to the front lines to encourage soldiers and join the fight in the north of the country against “terrorists who threaten our lands.”

It is about the “al-Haqiqa” rebel group, which operates from neighboring Libya and has advanced south in recent weeks. The United States called on non-essential diplomatic personnel to leave the country on Saturday.

Just reelected

Monday’s preliminary election results showed 68-year-old Deby could start a sixth term as head of state. The main opposition leaders boycotted the elections.

Idriss Déby came to power in 1990. Western countries considered him a supporter in the war against Islamic extremists such as Boko Haram, ISIS and Al Qaeda. A military council is led by his 37-year-old son, a four-star general named Muhammad Kaka.

The army immediately imposed a curfew and closed the borders. The government and parliament are dissolved. The armed forces promised to hold “free and democratic” elections after an 18-month transitional period.