Chad pays last respects to late President Idriss Deby

By Rodrigue Forku

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AA) - A ceremony was held on Friday to pay last respects to late President Idriss Deby Itno, who died of his injuries while fighting against rebels earlier this week.

The ceremony took place at Place de la Nation in the capital N’Djamena in the presence of a dozen African presidents and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Deby, who was recently re-elected for a sixth presidential term, died with his boots on, fighting a heavily armed rebellion in the north-central African country earlier this week.

Following his death, the military announced an 18-month transitional council led by Deby's son, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby.

At the ceremony, Macron said: "France will never let anyone to question, and will never let anyone threaten, either today or tomorrow the stability and integrity of Chad."

Felix Tshisekdi, the Democratic Republic of Congo president, who is also the chairman of the African Union (AU), pledges AU's support to the National Transitional Council of Chad in line with the laws of the Central African country.

Violet Kakyomya, the UN resident representative in Chad, extended the UN's condolences to the Chadian people.

Deby will be buried in Amdjarass, next to his hometown Berdoba, near the Sudanese border.