Chadian President Idriss Deby has died while visiting front-line troops in a fight against northern rebels, an army spokesman said on Tuesday, the day after Deby was declared the winner of the presidential election.
Deby, 68, came to power in a rebellion in 1990 and was one of Africa’s oldest leaders.
His campaign said Monday he was joining troops fighting what he called terrorists after rebels based on Libya’s northern border advanced hundreds of kilometers south to the capital N’Djamena. [L1N2MC20E]
The cause of death was still unclear.
Army spokesman Azem Bermendao Agouna announced his death on a state television broadcast, surrounded by a group of military officers whom he referred to as the National Transitional Council.
“A call for dialogue and peace is made to all Chadians in the country and abroad to continue building Chad together,” he said.
“The Transitional National Council reassures the Chadian people that all measures have been taken to ensure peace, security and republican order.”
Western countries have seen Deby as an ally in the fight against Islamist extremist groups, including Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin and groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Sahel.
Deby also addressed growing public discontent over his management of Chad’s oil wealth and crackdowns on opponents.
His election victory had given him a sixth term, but opposition leaders boycotted the April 11 vote.
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