Mahamat Déby

Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno (born 4 April 1984), also known by the nickname Kaka, is a Chadian politician and military officer who has been the seventh president of Chad since 2024, having previously served in this role in a transitional capacity from 2022 and was also Chad's de facto head of state and president of the Transitional Military Council from 2021 until his appointment as transitional president. Déby also previously served as the second in-command of the military for the Chadian Intervention in Northern Mali (FATIM). He is the son of Idriss Déby, who served as the sixth president of Chad from 1990 to 2021.

Born in N'Djamena, Déby was sent to military training in France. He first saw combat in 2006. In 2013, Déby went to Mali, where he was appointed second in command of the Chadian special forces in the country under general Oumar Bikimo. Déby led the army in February against rebels in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains in northern Mali leading to the Battle of Ifoghas, where they eliminated a rebel base. After returning to Chad, Déby was appointed the director of the General Directorate of the Security Services of State Institutions (DGSSIE).