Visit His Military On The Front Line, Chadian President Idriss Deby Killed

Presiden Chad Idriss Deby. (Wikimedia Commons / Rama)

JAKARTA - Chadian President Idriss Deby was killed while visiting troops on the front line of fighting against northern rebels, said a military spokesman on Tuesday, a day after Deby was declared the winner of the presidential election.

Deby, 68, has been in power since the 1990 uprising and is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. The cause of death is not clear.

Idriss Deby is known on Monday 19 April, joining forces fighting what he calls terrorists, after rebels based on the northern border in Libya advanced hundreds of km (miles) south towards the capital N'Djamena.

Army spokesman Azem Bermendao Agouna announced his death on broadcast on state television, surrounded by a group of military officers he called the National Transitional Council.

"The call for dialogue and peace is called on to all Chadian citizens at home and abroad, to continue to build Chad together," he said.

"The National Transitional Council assures the people of Chad that all measures have been taken to ensure the peace, security and order of the republic." he continued.

Western countries see Deby as an ally in the fight against Islamic extremist groups, including Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin and groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS in the Sahel.

Deby has also dealt with growing public discontent over the management of Chad's oil wealth and the crackdown on his opponents.

In the April 11 elections, Deby came out victorious again and gave him a sixth consecutive term. However, the opposition leaders boycotted the election results.