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April 21, 2021

Idriss Déby's Son Named Interim Leader Following Chadian President's Death
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In Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby, the son of late President Idriss Déby, has
been named interim head of state by a military council after his father
died, reportedly while visiting frontline soldiers as they battled a
rebel advance in the north of the country. The army has also enacted a
nationwide curfew and announced Chad's land and air borders will be shut
down. Rebel forces threatened to move toward the capital, prompting
fears of further unrest. Idriss Déby had been in power for over 30 years
and was just announced the winner of a recent presidential election
before his death. Rights groups are calling for a quick transition to
democratic civilian rule and an accounting of human rights abuses under
Déby's reign.


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