A charter released on Wednesday by the Chadian government has named General Mahamat Déby Itno as president in place of his deceased father.
The charter states that the 37-year-old, who on Tuesday was swiftly named transitional leader as head of a military council following his father’s death, will ‘occupy the functions of the president of the republic’ and also serve as head of the armed forces.
The charter repeals the previous constitution and will be implemented as the “basic law of the republic,” according to its terms.
The younger Deby has also been named ‘supreme head of the armed forces,’ it said.
Deby’s son had overseen his father’s security as head of the elite presidential guard and had often appeared alongside him while he was alive.
He signed a decree Tuesday setting out a military council with 15 generals, including himself and 14 others known to have been part of the late president’s circle of loyalists.
The council is tasked with an 18-month transition toward ‘free and democratic elections.’
Mahamat Déby Itno also chairs the ‘military transition council, the council of ministers, the councils and superior committees of national defence,’ according to the charter.
