Mahamat Idriss Deby, head of the presidential guard, is set to take over as Chad’s new head of state, according to a charter released Wednesday by the presidency.
The presidency moved swiftly to put the reins of power in the hands of the 37-year-old general, establishing a “Transition Charter” that lays out a new basic law for the country of 16 million people.
The new charter issued Wednesday proclaimed that Mahamat, a career soldier like his father, will “occupy the functions of the president of the republic” and also serve as head of the armed forces.
Mahamat had already been named the head of a military council on Tuesday soon after the announcement of Deby’s death in combat, a move Analysts say has sidelined other political institutions in Chad and has been branded a coup d’etat by opposition groups.
Mahamat immediately took charge of a transitional military council and appointed 14 of the most trusted generals to a junta to run Chad until “free and democratic” elections in 18 months’ time.
The military council said Chad reopened its borders on Wednesday, a day after they were closed following the death in combat of President Idriss Deby Itno.
In the meantime, the rebel forces who have been blamed for Deby’s death have categorically rejected the transition of power and have vowed to press on with their offensive.
A statement from the group known as the Front for Change and Concord in Chad said Chad is not a monarchy and so there can be no dynastic devolution of power in the country.”
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