Head of the military junta and president of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, left N’Djamena for a “friendship and working visit” to France.
The 37-year-old four-star general has been leading a Transitional Military Council of 15 generals since the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, was announced on 20 April.
France, the former colonial power in Chad, is the third country visited by the head of the military junta since he took power, after Niger and Nigeria.
On 20 April, the CMT proclaimed its leader President of the Republic, dissolved the Parliament and the government and abrogated the Constitution. It promised “free and transparent” elections after a transition period of 18 months renewable once.
The international community, led by the African Union (AU) and France, demanded that this period should not exceed 18 months. However, at the end of June, Mahamat Déby hinted that he would not rule out an extension.
The Chadian army is one of the main pillars in the fight against jihadist groups in the Sahel. At Idriss Déby’s funeral, Macron was the only Western head of state to go to N’Djamena to pay a heartfelt tribute to the deceased and to meet his son and successor.
