Ivorian president, Alassane Ouattara has hailed the memory of a “great patriot and a courageous man” after the dramatic death on Tuesday of his Chadian counterpart Idriss Déby Itno at the age of 68.
The Chadian president succumbed to his injuries after clashes with rebels over the weekend.
“It is with dismay that I learned of the tragic death of my friend and brother, President Idriss Déby Itno. I salute the memory of a great patriot, a courageous man and committed to peace in the Sahel,” Ouattara wrote on his official Facebook page.
Ouattara referred his condolences “to the brotherly people” of Chad.
Idriss Déby Itno was re-elected for a sixth term after the April 12 presidential election in Chad, a country he led for some thirty years.
A military transition has been set up and is chaired by General Mahamat Idriss Déby, the son of President Déby who was in charge of the presidential guard.
The transition should last 18 months before new elections are held.
LB/ls/lb/as/APA