Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, was officially promoted to the rank of marshal in a ceremony held at the presidential palace on Saturday. The title, previously held by his late father, Idriss Deby Itno, marks a significant moment in the country’s political history.
The National Transition Council (NTC), dominated by the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), voted overwhelmingly in favour of the elevation. A resolution cited Deby’s “services rendered to the nation and numerous military victories” as reasons for the honour.
Deby’s father, who led Chad for three decades, was similarly declared marshal in 2020 after a successful campaign against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. The elder Deby was killed by rebels in 2021, after which his son swiftly took power with the backing of the military junta.
Mahamat Deby was legitimised in a contentious presidential election in May 2024, a move criticised by opposition groups.
The promotion comes just weeks ahead of Chad’s December 29 legislative and local elections, which opposition parties have vowed to boycott. These polls will be the first parliamentary elections since 2011, further highlighting the nation’s political challenges.
Last month, Chad announced it would end its military cooperation with France, severing ties with its former colonial ruler. This decision marked the latest step in France’s declining military influence in Africa after being forced to withdraw from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following a series of coups.
