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Idriss Déby

Chadian former president (1952–2021)

AI overview

Idriss Déby was the president of Chad from 1990 until his death in 2021, making him one of Africa's longest-serving leaders during that period. His rule was significant for Chad's regional politics and internal stability, though his tenure was marked by both military governance and efforts to maintain power in a conflict-affected country.

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Quotes

“Chad is a haven of peace in a stormy ocean. Strikes and demonstrations are normal in any democracy. Europe should not be too impatient with the young democracies in Africa. You must give us the time to progress at our own pace. We have already come a long way, we have caught with you and are now on the same level in terms of democracy.”

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Article

Idriss Déby Itno (Arabic: إدريس ديبي إتنو Idrīs Daybī Itnū; 18 June 1952 – 20 April 2021) was a Chadian politician and military officer who was the sixth president of Chad from 1991 until his death in 2021 during the Northern Chad offensive. His term of 30 years makes him Chad's longest-serving president.

Déby was a member of the Bidayat clan of the Zaghawa ethnic group. A high-ranking commander of President Hissène Habré's military during the 1980s, Déby played important roles in the Toyota War which led to Chad's victory during the Chadian-Libyan War. He was later purged by Habré after being suspected of plotting a coup, and was forced into exile in Libya. He took power by leading a coup d'état against Habré in December 1990 and was immediately proclaimed transitional president, whom Déby served until he was officially proclaimed president on 28 February 1991. Despite introducing a multi-party system in 1992 after several decades of one-party rule under his predecessors, throughout his presidency, Déby's party, the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) was the dominant party. Déby won presidential elections in 1996 and 2001, and after term limits were eliminated he won again in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.