President of Chad Idriss Derby Killed in Battle Against Rebel Forces at Age 68

Idriss Deby, who ruled Chad for 30 years, died shortly after securing a sixth term as president, and a military council headed by his son immediately assumed power.

Deby, 68, died of injuries sustained in a battle against rebels, according to a statement read on state television by army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna. The 15-person council intends to govern for 18 months, with General Mahamat Idriss Deby serving as interim head of state.

Chad doesn’t have a deputy president and under the constitution, elections should be held within 90 days in the event the president’s post becomes vacant.

“The announcement of Deby’s son as interim head of state suggests that the army moved swiftly to ensure regime continuity, especially in the context of political tensions within the military and strong opposition in the country,” Nathaniel Power, a researcher at the Centre for War and Diplomacy at Lancaster University in the U.K. and the author of “France’s Wars in Chad,” said in a Twitter post. “This is technically a coup since it violates the constitutional provisions for what happens when the president dies.”

Parliament and government were dissolved and all air and land borders are closed, according to a separate statement signed by the nation’s new leader. Other members of the council include former Army Minister Djimadoum Tiraina and Mahamat Nour, an ex-rebel leader and defense minister.

Deby became president of the former French colony in February 1991 after leading a rebellion against autocratic leader Hissene Habre. He secured 79% of the vote in April 11 elections, according to official results released on Monday.

The credibility of the latest vote was called into question after the Supreme Court barred seven opposition candidates from running and three others later quit the race.

A group of Libya-based rebels, known as FACT, the French acronym for the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, and largely comprised of army dissidents, has been fighting to overthrow Deby’s administration since 2016.

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