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CHAD

The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

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“Chad post-Idriss Deby: the big unknown”

CHAD

Chad post-Idriss Deby: the big unknown

In April 2021, following the death in combat of Idriss Deby, Chad's all-powerful leader who ruled over the country for over three decades, his son Mahamat Idriss Deby known as "Kaka" took over at the head of the National Transitional Council. A year later, with the threat of rebellion hanging over N'Djamena, the country remains more split than ever. In an attempt to bridge the divide, Kaka has been trying to engage with his father's opponents, lately in Qatar since 13 March. But this is no easy task in the context of shifting regional alliances and the talks with the opposition's armed groups have been dragging on, casting a doubt on the general election set for the end of 2022. [...]

A halo of mystery surrounds Mahamat Idriss Déby, alias "Kaka", son of Idriss Déby and, since his father's death on 18 April, Chad's new head of state. An official biography has been widely distributed since he came to power but needs to be treated with caution with regard to his age, his education and training and his feats on the battlefield. Africa Intelligence has reconstituted the bulk of the career of the highly secretive chairman of the Military Transition Council. [...] (1833 words)

Issue dated 14/06/2021 Reading time 8 minutes

Mahamat Idriss Deby delivering a message at the presidential palace in N'Djamena on 27 April 2021. © Brahim Adji/Tchad Presidential Palace/AFP

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Politics

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CHAD
Abdelkrim Idriss Déby
Abdramane Hemchi Bourdami
Acyl
Agence nationale de sécurité
Ahmed Kogri
Bernard Barrera
Brahim Idriss Déby
Chadian Armed Forces
Direction générale de service de sécurité des institutions de l'Etat
Forces armées tchadiennes d'intervention au Mali
Front Uni pour le Changement
Griffon Aerospace Middle East
Habib Boukharouba
Hinda Déby Itno
Hissène Habré
Jacques Chirac
Jean-Louis Georgelin
Jean-Pierre Kelche
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim
Michel de Bonnecorse
Military Transition Council
Moukhtar Wawa Dahab
Operation Serval
Oumar Bikimo
Timam Erdimi
Tom Erdimi
Zakaria Idriss Deby

Kaka expected in Qatar Sunday to raise funds for transition and discuss Erdimi case

Breaking news published on 10/09/21 at 12:00 p.m. - The very strategic visit, first scheduled on July, of Chad's transition leader Mahamat Idriss Déby to Qatar will take place this weekend following two months of negotiations. [...]

Chad's leader Mahamat Idriss Déby, also known as Kaka. © Présidence de la République du Tchad/Facebook

CHAD QATAR Diplomacy 22/07/2021

Mahamat Déby expected in Doha to orchestrate (and finance) reconciliation

Transition president Mahamat Idriss Déby is counting on the oil-rich emirate to fund a sweeping reconciliation operation in Chad but there are still serious hurdles in the way. [...]

Chad's transitional president Mahamat Idriss Déby. © Chad Presidency

SAHEL Defence Diplomacy 28/06/2021

Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

A few months after FACT rebels' abortive assault on N'Djamena, the military staffs of Chad and Niger, which the episode pitted against each other, have begun discreet talks about conducting joint air reconnaissance and perhaps even air strikes. [...]

CHAD Energy 15/06/2021

'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

Chad's interim leader has decided to reshuffle the management of the state-owned oil company on the advice of oil minister Oumar Torbo Djarma. It's bad news for his stepmother. [...]

Chad's interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby. © Chad's republic presidency

CHAD Energy Business 25/05/2021

Post-Déby clouds form over World Bank's vast solar project

Political uncertainty in the wake of Idriss Déby's death could shed doubt over the World Bank's fledgling half-billion-dollar electrification scheme. [...]

CHAD Diplomacy 14/05/2021

Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Yielding to international pressure, the head of the interim goverment Mahamat Idriss Déby, aka "Kaka", has pledged to modify parts of the charter governing the 18-month transition period. On 18 May, the UN Security Council will address the country's situation. [...]

CHAD Diplomacy 11/05/2021

Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

The new leader in N'Djamena, also known by the name "Kaka" - grandmother in Chadian Arabic - can draw on a strong network of well-connected Chadians in the African Union. [...]

Son of the late Chadian president Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby. © Christophe Petit Tesson/POOL/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Spotlight

CHAD Politics 07/05/2021

New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

The Transitional Military Council, in power since the death of Idriss Deby, is worried about several Chadian rebel groups active in the Fezzan region of southern Libya. Chad is urgently trying to boost its firepower and wants help from Libya and Niger. [...]

CHAD LIBYA Diplomacy 04/05/2021

Mahamat Idriss Déby extends an olive branch to Toubou in northern Chad, southern Libya

Mahamat Idriss Déby, the new strongman of N'Djamena, wants to prevent rebel forces forming an alliance with the Toubou tribes whose homeland straddles Chad and Libya. [...]

Mahamat Idriss Déby (Kaka), son of the late Chadian President Idriss Déby, is the head of the Transitional Military Council. © Christophe Petit Tesson/Pool/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

CHAD Politics 03/05/2021

After Déby's death, Paris checks in with the opposition

With the Transitional Military Council (CMT) in the crosshairs since Idriss Déby's death, the Elysée Palace and French foreign ministry have been holding meeting after meeting with the opposition. [...]

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CHAD Diplomacy 30/04/2021

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Under Idriss Déby, Chad became a major influence in the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), where it has close links with rebel groups. President Touadéra, who is concerned about the connections of new Chadian strongman "Kaka" in his country, is closely monitoring Déby's son and would-be heir. [...]

CHAD AFRICAN UNION Diplomacy 29/04/2021

Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

The unconstitutional replacement of late Chadian president Idriss Déby by his son Gen Mahamat Idriss Déby has split the African Union into two camps, with some keen to condemn the new ruling military council and others willing to work with the new authorities as soon as possible. [...]

CHAD Diplomacy 23/04/2021

Secret talks to place Déby's son "Kaka" under intense international pressure

On the sidelines of Idriss Déby's state funeral on 23 April, the heads of state present in N'Djamena have united to demand new N'Djamena strongman Mahamat Idriss Déby, aka "Kaka", amend the transition charter they deem 'unacceptable'. [...]

Mahamat Idriss Déby, known as Kaka. © Cheick Diouara/Reuters

SAHEL Diplomacy 22/04/2021

After Déby's death, last chance mission in N'Djamena to save G5 Sahel

The death of the Chadian president, who had been at the head of the G5 Sahel since February, has left a leadership vacuum. The group's heads of state are expected to meet in N'Djamena on 22 April to convince the Transitional Military Council to hand the presidency to Burkina Faso. [...]

CHAD Defence Politics 20/04/2021

Chad tries to rush gunships back home from Tbilissi to counter rebel advance

As armed insurgents, mobilised since this month's presidential poll, threaten to capture Tebesti in northern Chad, the government is desperate to get back helicopters that have been overhauled in eastern Europe. [...]

Two Mi-24 helicopter gunships belonging to the Chadian army have been overhauled in the Tbilaviamsheni factory in Tbilisi. © Africa Intelligence

Spotlight

CHAD Politics 25/05/2016

Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country

Chad’s President Idriss Deby wasted no time after his reelection for a fifth term in April to people Chad’s corridors of power once again with relatives and fellow clan members. Even before his inauguration, Deby, who has been in power [. [...]

On our other sites

Intelligence Online 17/05/2021

Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle

Idriss Deby's succession is of great interest to intelligence services that have a stake in Chad as a regional platform. Having already toured African capitals, Ahmed Kogri, the head of the National Security Agency, will next visit the Transitional Military Council's allies outside the continent to drum up support. [...]

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CHAD
Abdelkrim Idriss Déby
Abdramane Hemchi Bourdami
Acyl
Agence nationale de sécurité
Ahmed Kogri
Bernard Barrera
Brahim Idriss Déby
Chadian Armed Forces
Direction générale de service de sécurité des institutions de l'Etat
Forces armées tchadiennes d'intervention au Mali
Front Uni pour le Changement
Griffon Aerospace Middle East
Habib Boukharouba
Hinda Déby Itno
Hissène Habré
Jacques Chirac
Jean-Louis Georgelin
Jean-Pierre Kelche
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Mahamat Nour Abdelkerim
Michel de Bonnecorse
Military Transition Council
Moukhtar Wawa Dahab
Operation Serval
Oumar Bikimo
Timam Erdimi
Tom Erdimi
Zakaria Idriss Deby

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The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

Chad post-Idriss Deby: the big unknown

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

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Receive free prompts for these topics

Kaka expected in Qatar Sunday to raise funds for transition and discuss Erdimi case

Mahamat Déby expected in Doha to orchestrate (and finance) reconciliation

Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

Post-Déby clouds form over World Bank's vast solar project

Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

Mahamat Idriss Déby extends an olive branch to Toubou in northern Chad, southern Libya

After Déby's death, Paris checks in with the opposition

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

Secret talks to place Déby's son "Kaka" under intense international pressure

After Déby's death, last chance mission in N'Djamena to save G5 Sahel

Chad tries to rush gunships back home from Tbilissi to counter rebel advance

Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country

Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle

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The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

Chad post-Idriss Deby: the big unknown

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 31)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Receive free prompts for these topics

Kaka expected in Qatar Sunday to raise funds for transition and discuss Erdimi case

Mahamat Déby expected in Doha to orchestrate (and finance) reconciliation

Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

Post-Déby clouds form over World Bank's vast solar project

Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

Mahamat Idriss Déby extends an olive branch to Toubou in northern Chad, southern Libya

After Déby's death, Paris checks in with the opposition

Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

Secret talks to place Déby's son "Kaka" under intense international pressure

After Déby's death, last chance mission in N'Djamena to save G5 Sahel

Chad tries to rush gunships back home from Tbilissi to counter rebel advance

Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country

Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle

Receive free prompts for these topics

First visit

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Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: