Déby, Idriss (1952– )

Chadian soldier and politician, president from 1990. As founder and leader of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), Déby seized power in an armed coup in December 1990. His presidency was constitutionally endorsed when he won Chad's first democratic presidential election in 1996. He was re-elected in 2001 and for a third term in May 2006, with 65% of the vote, but the opposition boycotted this poll. Since 2005, the country has faced armed rebellion in the east, with fighting at times reaching the capital N'Djaména. It has led to tense relations with Sudan, accused by Déby of aiding the rebels, and the government has spent heavily on arms to stay in power.

Déby was born in eastern Chad, the son of a herder, and joined the army at the age of 20, later training as a pilot in France. He returned to Chad in 1978 and supported Hissene Habré's opposition to President Goukouni Oueddei, enabling Habré to come to power in 1982. Déby then became commander-in-chief of the armed forces and military adviser to President Habré. He achieved military success over Libyan forces in 1987, but in 1989 a rift developed with Habré over the increasing power of the Presidential Guard. Déby fled the country in 1989 after Habré accused him of plotting a coup. He founded the MPS in 1990 and, from a base in Sudan, ousted Habré in December 1990 and made himself interim head of state.

He promised an eventual return to civilian rule, and in 1994 signed a treaty of friendship with Col Khaddhafi of Libya. In March 1996, a new multiparty constitution, based on the French dual-executive model, was approved by referendum and Déby was elected president in July 1996.

In May 2001 he was re-elected with 63% of the vote. The constitution was revised in 2005 to end the limit of two presidential terms, which enabled Déby to be elected for a third term in May 2006, with 65% of the vote.