Marshal Idriss Deby lost his life, officially in combat, in northern Kanem. Three years to the day after his disappearance, on Saturday, April 20, 2024, silence reigns around his legacy. Neither his son, current president, nor his former faithful, appear to have marked the date with tributes or memories. Only his widow, Hinda Deby, and former minister Abdoulaye Sabre have spoken on social networks, a striking contrast to the effervescence of Idriss Deby’s thirty-one-year reign. This raises questions about the true feelings and loyalties of his inner circle during his presidency.
Meanwhile, Mahamat Zen Bada, Deby’s longtime companion and former minister, now the president’s son’s campaign manager, has said the last three years without Deby have been better than the previous three decades, adding a controversial twist to the sad anniversary.