Chad president, 68, killed on frontline visiting troops battling rebels days after being re-elected.

 Chad's President Deby Dies

Idriss Deby, the president of Chad, is dead. An Army spokesman whose name was not mentioned said on Tuesday, April 20, that the president died of injuries suffered on the frontline, Al Jazeera reported. The news media noted that Derby's death came a day after he won a sixth term as the country's election results were just released on Monday, 19 April. 

President Deby's death comes barely a month after John Magufuli, the president of Tanzania, died at the age of 61. Magufuli's death was reportedly announced on Wednesday, 17 March, by the vice president, Samia Suluhu. His death also came five months after he won a second term election. The late president had attracted widespread criticism for his denial of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Suluhu, Magufuli succumbed to heart disease. She said the late president began feeling unwell and was taken to Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute on Saturday, 6 March. On Sunday, 7 March, and was discharged after assessment by cardiac specialists. 

By

Khanyisile Mseleni