President Déby was killed while visiting troops on the frontline, according to an army spokesman.
The circumstances of the death of Déby, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders, are not yet known. The 68-year-old president had won a sixth term just before being killed at the front in a fight against rebels directed towards the capital.
According to François Gaulme, associate researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri):
(...) Deby was admired by French soldiers, as a sort of " Chadian Napoleon"
This [Deby's death] calls into question the entire French strategy in the Sahel.
President Macron deplores the loss of a "great soldier" and "courageous friend".
> Read the article in Financial Times
Media:
Share
Authors
François GAULME
Chercheur associé, Centre Afrique subsaharienne de l'Ifri
