Mahamat Déby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahamat Déby
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محمد ديبي
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Déby in 2022
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| 7th President of Chad | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2024 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by |
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| Head of State of Chad | |
| De facto 20 April 2021 – 10 October 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Albert Pahimi Padacké |
| Deputy | Djimadoum Tiraina |
| Preceded by | Idriss Deby (as President) |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as President) |
| President of the Transitional Military Council | |
| In office 20 April 2021 – 10 October 2022 |
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| Vice President | Djimadoum Tiraina |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 April 1984 N'Djamena, Chad |
| Political party | MPS (since 2022) |
| Spouses | Three wives, including Dahabaya Oumar Souni |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Idriss Déby (Father) |
| Nickname | Kaka |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Chad |
| Branch/service | Chadian Ground Forces |
| Rank |  Marshal |
| Unit | Third Armoured Brigade Fifth Air Brigade Free Arab Volountiers |
| Battles/wars |
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Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno (born April 4, 1984) is a politician and military leader from the country of Chad. He is the seventh and current president of Chad. He is often known by his nickname, Kaka.
Before becoming the official president in 2024, he was the country's temporary leader. He took charge after his father, Idriss Déby, who was president for over 30 years, died in 2021. Mahamat is the son of Idriss Déby and has followed in his father's footsteps as both a military commander and the leader of Chad.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Mahamat Déby was born in 1984 in N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad. His father, Idriss Déby, was the commander of Chad's army at the time and later became president.
Mahamat has a family and is married to three women. One of his wives, Dahabaya Oumar Souni, is a journalist who is considered the First Lady of Chad. She worked as a media advisor for her father-in-law and now works with her husband.
Military Career
Mahamat Déby decided to become a soldier like his father. He went to military schools in Chad and also trained in France. His first experience in battle was in 2006 when rebel groups attacked Chad's capital city.
He quickly became a respected leader in the army. In 2009, he helped lead the Chadian army to victory in the Battle of Am Dam against rebels. For his success, he was put in charge of important army units.
In 2013, he was sent to Mali to help fight against rebel groups there. He led his soldiers in a major battle in the Adrar des Ifoghas mountains, where they successfully took over a rebel base. After his service in Mali, he returned to Chad and was given command of the DGSSIE, a special force that protects the president.
Becoming President of Chad
In April 2021, Mahamat's father, President Idriss Déby, was killed during a battle with a rebel group called FACT. Immediately after his father's death, the military announced that Mahamat would take over as the leader of Chad.
A temporary government called the Transitional Military Council (TMC) was created, with Mahamat as its president. The country's constitution was suspended, and the TMC promised to lead the country for 18 months before holding elections.
Some people in Chad were unhappy with this change, saying it was like a military takeover, or coup. They believed the leader of the National Assembly should have become the temporary president, as the constitution required. However, other countries, like France, supported Mahamat, hoping he would keep the country stable.
A Time of Transition
After taking power, Déby proposed a "national dialogue," which was a plan to bring the government and opposition groups together to talk about the country's future. Peace talks were held, and an agreement was signed in August 2022.
However, some major rebel and opposition groups did not join the talks. Because of this, the dialogue decided to delay the elections until 2024. This decision led to large protests in October 2022, mostly in the cities of N'Djamena and Moundou. The government responded strongly to the protests, and many people were arrested.
Working with Other Countries
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Déby has worked to build relationships with other nations. He has received support from Western countries, especially France, which was the colonial power in Chad long ago. French President Emmanuel Macron attended his father's funeral and promised to support the new government.
Déby has also met with other world leaders, including the President of the United States and the President of the European Commission, to discuss Chad's transition to a democratic government.
Challenges in Chad
During his time as leader, Déby has faced several challenges. The rebel group Boko Haram has continued to carry out attacks in the Lake Chad region. In November 2022, an attack killed at least 10 Chadian soldiers.
In 2022, Chad also experienced terrible floods after heavy rains. The floods affected hundreds of thousands of people, and the government had to declare a state of emergency.
2024 Presidential Election
In early 2024, Déby announced he would run for president in the election scheduled for May 6. His main opponent was Succès Masra, who was serving as his prime minister.
On May 9, 2024, the election agency announced that Déby had won the election with over 61% of the vote. Masra, who received about 18.5% of the vote, disagreed with the results and had claimed on social media that he had won.
After the election, Masra resigned as prime minister. On May 23, 2024, Mahamat Déby was officially sworn in as the elected president of Chad. He then appointed Allamaye Halina as the new prime minister. This election continued his family's leadership of the country, which began when his father took power in 1990.
See also
In Spanish: Mahamat Déby Itno para niños
- Military of Chad
Images for kids
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Déby with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, February 2022
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Déby with US President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C., December 2022
