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In Focus | Chad
The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

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. [...]

Published on 14/06/2021 at 06:00 GMT 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 Deby
Abdramane Hemchi Bourdami
Acyl
Agence Nationale de Securite
Ahmed Kogri
Bernard Barrera
Brahim Idriss Déby
Chadian Armed Forces
Direction générale des services de sécurité et des institutions de l'État
Forces armées tchadiennes d'intervention au Mali
Front Uni pour le Changement
Griffon Aerospace Middle East
Habib Boukharouba
Hinda Deby Itno
Hissene Habre
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

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 10.09.2021

Chad's leader Mahamat Idriss Déby, also known as Kaka.

Chad, Qatar
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.07.2021

Chad's transitional president Mahamat Idriss Déby.

Sahel
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.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 28.06.2021

Chad
'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.

Subscribers only Energy 15.06.2021

Chad's interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby.

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Energy, Business 25.05.2021

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 14.05.2021

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 11.05.2021

Spotlight | Chad
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.

Subscribers only Politics 07.05.2021

Son of the late Chadian president Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby.

Chad, Libya
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 04.05.2021

Mahamat Idriss Déby (Kaka), son of the late Chadian President Idriss Déby, is the head of the Transitional Military Council.

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Politics 03.05.2021

Central African Republic, Chad
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 30.04.2021

African Union, Chad
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.04.2021

Chad
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'.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 23.04.2021

Sahel
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.04.2021

Chad
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.

Subscribers only Defence, Politics 20.04.2021

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

Spotlight | Chad
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 [.

Subscribers only Politics 25.05.2016

On our other sites

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.

Subscribers only Intelligence Online 17.05.2021

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Chad
Abdelkrim Idriss Deby
Abdramane Hemchi Bourdami
Acyl
Agence Nationale de Securite
Ahmed Kogri
Bernard Barrera
Brahim Idriss Déby
Chadian Armed Forces
Direction générale des services de sécurité et des institutions de l'État
Forces armées tchadiennes d'intervention au Mali
Front Uni pour le Changement
Griffon Aerospace Middle East
Habib Boukharouba
Hinda Deby Itno
Hissene Habre
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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In Focus | Chad
The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

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

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

Sahel
Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

Chad
'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

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

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Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Chad
Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

Spotlight | Chad
New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

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

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

Central African Republic, Chad
Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

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

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

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

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

Spotlight | Chad
Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country

Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

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In Focus | Chad The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

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create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

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

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

Sahel Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

Chad 'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

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

Chad Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Chad Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

Spotlight | Chad New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

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

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

Central African Republic, Chad Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

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

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

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

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

Spotlight | Chad Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country

Chad upheaval prompts intelligence power struggle

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Botswana, South Africa
From Gaborone to Antwerp, is De Beers's empire on the rocks?

Mali, Senegal, Togo
The secrets of Demex, the trader selling Russian oil in West Africa

In Focus | Chad
The unauthorised life story of "Kaka", N'Djamena's new strongman

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

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

Sahel
Bazoum and 'Kaka' plan common aerial front against rebels

Chad
'Kaka' dismantles former first lady's oil networks

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

Chad
Kaka ready to make concessions on transitional charter

Chad
Mahamat Déby's handy African Union contacts

Spotlight | Chad
New masters of N'Djamena seek support against rebel threat

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

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

Central African Republic, Chad
Touadéra in a state of paranoia after Idriss Déby's death

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

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

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

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

Spotlight | Chad
Post election, Deby clan tightens grip on country