He carefully curated his arrival in Chad, imagining a grandiose, much-anticipated affair. On 24 July, shortly after midday, a crowd of dignitaries, close friends and acquaintances gathered as Abakar Manany's private jet touched down on the tarmac at N'Djamena International Airport. As he stepped out of the aircraft registered to his airline Amjet, the special presidential adviser and minister of state relished the moment. In the VIP lounge, he took time between meet-and-greets to pose for selfies,