Chadian constitution suspended as late Deby’s son is named new president

Mahamat Deby, son of the late Idriss Deby of Chad, is to take over as president of the country.

A charter released by Chad’s presidency on Wednesday, said 37-year-old Mahamat, who was named transitional leader of a military council on Tuesday, will “occupy the functions of the president of the republic”.

According to Al Jazeera, he will also serve as “supreme head of the armed forces”.

The 37-year-old army general was appointed to lead a military council set up after his father was killed by rebel forces.

The late Chadian president was confirmed dead on Tuesday following injuries sustained in a fight with the rebels over the weekend.

The military council said the transitional period would last for 18 months while the cabinet and the parliament will be dissolved.

The army had also said “free and democratic elections will be held once the transition period is over”.

The Chadian parliament was dissolved and the constitution suspended.

“The members of the army who are called to the transition government are discharged from all military duties,” the charter said.

The charter repeals the constitution and will be implemented as the “basic law of the Republic”.

The constitution states that in the absence of the president or in case he dies, the speaker of the parliament takes charge of the country for 40 days and a transition is put in place until elections are held.