Africa

Chad President Idriss Déby dies hours after winning sixth term

Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno, who has been in power for 30 years has died of injuries suffered on the frontline, the army spokesman announced on state television.

Deby, 68, “has just breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield” over the weekend, General Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on state television.

Deby was re-elected to a sixth term with 79.32 percent of the votes cast in April 11’s election, according to provisional results from the electoral commission on Monday.

Former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacke came in second with just 10.32 percent in the presidential vote, while turnout was 64.81 percent, Independent National Electoral Commission chairman Kodi Mahamat Bam said.

The first female president candidate in Chad’s history, Lydie Beassemda, came third with 3.16 percent.

- Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading. -

The provisional results still need to be approved by the Supreme Court after it studies potential legal appeals.

After more than three decades in power, the victory of 68-year-old Deby was never in serious doubt after a campaign in which he faced a divided opposition lacking a major rival candidate and demonstrations were banned or dispersed.

Idriss Déby - Wikipedia
Chadian President Idriss Deby has died today April 20, 2021

Officially nine candidates were running against Deby, but three withdrew and called for the vote to be boycotted — though the Supreme Court kept their names on the ballots.

Deby campaigned on a promise of peace and security in a region that has been rocked by jihadist insurgencies.

Chad’s army said Monday it had killed more than 300 rebels following a heavily armed group’s incursion in the country’s north after election day.

- Advertisement. -

More details to follow…



Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: dailyexpressug@gmail.com Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.

Comments

Daily Express is Uganda's number one source for breaking news, National news, policy analytical stories, e-buzz, sports, and general news.

We resent fake stories in all our published stories, and are driven by our tagline of being Accurate, Fast & Reliable.

Copyright © 2024 Daily Express Uganda. A Subsidiary of Rabiu Express Media Group Ltd.

To Top
Translate »