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 | Albert Pahimi Padacké Saleh Kebzabo Succès Masra Allamaye Halina |
| Vice President | Vacant |
| Preceded by | Himself (as President of the TMC) |
| General Secretary of the Patriotic Salvation Movement | |
| Assumed office 10 October 2022 |
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| Leader | Haroun Kabadi |
| President | Haroun Kabadi |
| Preceded by | Haroun Kabadi |
| President of the Transitional Military Council | |
| In office 20 April 2021 – 10 October 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Albert Pahimi Padacké |
| Vice President | Djimadoum Tiraina |
| Preceded by | Idriss Déby (as President) |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Transitional President) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 April 1984 N'Djamena, Chad |
| Political party | Patriotic Salvation Movement (2022–present) |
| 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 (Arabic: محمد إدريس ديبي إتنو; born 4 April 1984) is a leader in Chad. He has been the President of Chad since 2021. First, he led the country as the head of the Transitional Military Council from 2021 to 2022. Then, he became the Transitional President from 2022 to 2024. After winning the presidential elections in 2024, he became the 7th elected President.
People in Chad often call him by his nickname, Kaka. He is also the General Secretary of the Patriotic Salvation Movement, a political party, since 2022. Mahamat Déby took power on 20 April 2021. He became leader after his father, Idriss Déby, who was the previous president, passed away while leading troops in a battle. Before becoming president, Mahamat Déby was a high-ranking officer in Chad's military forces that helped in Mali.
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Mahamat Déby's Early Life
Mahamat Déby was born in 1984 in N'Djamena, the capital city of Chad. His father was Idriss Déby, who was a very important military leader at the time. His mother was from the Gourane group.
Mahamat Déby has five children. His wife, Dahabaya Oumar Souni, is a journalist. She is known as the First Lady of Chad. She worked closely with Mahamat's father, President Idriss Déby, helping with public relations. After her father-in-law passed away, she became a media advisor to the new government. Now, she works with her husband, President Mahamat Déby, as part of his team.
Mahamat Déby's Military Career
Mahamat Déby started his military training in Chad. He also studied at a military school in France. When he returned to Chad, he joined a special security group. His first experience in battle was in April 2006. This was when rebels attacked Chad's capital city.
Later, he fought in eastern Chad. After these battles, he was promoted to the rank of major. In May 2009, he became a brigadier general. He helped lead Chadian forces in the Battle of Am Dam, where they defeated rebel groups.
After this victory, he was put in charge of special armored units. In January 2013, he became second-in-command of Chad's special forces in Mali. On 22 February, he led his army against rebels in the mountains of northern Mali. This battle was called the Battle of Ifoghas. His forces destroyed an important rebel base. They caused many losses for the rebels but also lost some of their own soldiers. After this, Mahamat took full command of the Chadian forces in Mali. He continued to lead operations against rebels in the northern region.
Leading Chad as a Military Ruler
On 20 April 2021, Mahamat's father, President Idriss Déby, passed away during a battle. After this, Chad's military announced a big change. They said that the elected government was dissolved. A new group called the Transitional Military Council would lead the country for 18 months. Mahamat Déby was chosen to lead this council. He became the interim President and head of the armed forces.
Some people in Chad felt this change was not fair. They said the country's rules for choosing a new president were not followed. According to the rules, the head of the National Assembly should have become acting president. Then, new elections should have been held quickly. However, France, a strong ally of Chad, supported Mahamat Déby. They said it was necessary because of the difficult situation with the rebellion. Many other countries also supported Déby. They saw him as a leader who could bring stability to the region.
National Discussions for Peace
At first, Déby did not want to talk with the rebel groups. But in August 2021, he changed his mind. He suggested having a "national dialogue" to discuss the country's future. Rebel groups agreed to this idea. Peace talks between the government and rebels began a few months later.
These talks led to a peace agreement on 8 August 2022. This agreement planned for a national dialogue between Déby's government and the opposition. The goal was to prepare Chad for elections. However, some rebel groups and civil society groups did not agree with the peace deal. They felt it did not guarantee a return to civilian rule. Because of this, not many opposition groups joined the national dialogue. The dialogue decided to extend the transition period and postpone elections until at least October 2024. In March 2023, Déby pardoned many jailed rebel members. He hoped this would encourage them to join peace talks.
Protests in October 2022
The Transitional Military Council decided to delay the elections from their original date of 20 October. This decision led to large protests for democracy on that day. The protests mainly happened in the cities of N'Djamena and Moundou. They were organized by opposition groups.
In response, government forces used violence against the protesters. The government also blocked the internet for several days. This violence resulted in many deaths and arrests. Hundreds of people were arrested, and some were sentenced to prison. This day became known as "Black Thursday" because of the violence. After the protests, Déby blamed the organizers for the violence. He said the protests were an organized uprising. Several opposition political parties were suspended after these events.
International Support
Mahamat Déby has received strong support from Western countries, especially France. France used to rule Chad. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, attended the funeral of Mahamat's father. He promised to support Mahamat Déby's government and help keep Chad stable. France also had a large military force in the region, with its main base in Chad.
Déby also visited President Macron in France in June 2021. They talked about Chad's political changes. Even though France ended its main military operation in the region, they still support Déby. They continue to have troops in the area.
Chad's Economy
In July 2021, Mahamat Déby looked to Qatar for help with peace and economic plans in Chad. Under his leadership, Chad's economy has grown. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.1% in 2021 and 2.4% in 2022.
Fighting Boko Haram
On 22 November 2022, the group Boko Haram attacked a village in Chad. At least 10 soldiers from the Chad National Army were killed. Déby had said before that Boko Haram was attacking civilians more often. He noted that they no longer had the strength to attack military bases.
Chad Floods in 2022
In 2022, there were heavy rainfalls across Central Africa and West Africa. In mid-August, floods started in Chad. These floods caused the deaths of 22 people. About 442,000 people had to leave their homes. The government declared a state of emergency because of the floods.
2024 Presidential Election
On 13 January 2024, Mahamat Déby was chosen as the candidate for the Patriotic Salvation Movement party. He ran in the 2024 Chadian presidential election. After a main opponent passed away, three other candidates withdrew from the election. They did this in protest and out of concern for their safety. The African Union spoke out against the incident. The French Foreign Minister asked for a fair investigation.
On 9 May, Mahamat Déby was announced as the winner of the 2024 election. The National Elections Management Agency (ANGE) stated that Déby won 61.3% of the votes. His main opponent, Prime Minister Succès Masra, received 18.53%. Before the results were announced, Masra had claimed victory on social media. The election results were announced earlier than expected.
Déby was officially sworn in as the elected president on 23 May. He then appointed Allamaye Halina as the new prime minister. This happened after Masra resigned on 22 May.
See also
- List of state leaders by age#Youngest serving state leaders
- Military of Chad
Images for kids
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Mahamat Déby Itno for kids (Spanish)
