Opposition politicians in Chad have rejected the army’s appointment of President’s Idriss Déby’s son to take over in the wake of his death.
Déby, 68 – who had been in power for three decades – died after being shot as he battled rebels on the frontline.
The rebels have also objected the move, saying: “Chad is not a monarchy.”
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, also known as “General Kaka”, was in charge of the presidential guard and is to lead the country for 18 months until elections.
Experts have told the BBC and other broadcasters that the move is unconstitutional, and that the speaker of parliament should take over when a sitting president dies before organising elections.
Déby’s death was announced on state TV on Tuesday – a day after provisional election results projected he would win a sixth term in office at the helm of the oil-rich country.
The government and parliament have been dissolved. On Wednesday, the borders were reopened and overnight curfew eased slightly.
There are fears that the death could trigger political instability in the vast semi-arid country with a long history of rebellions and coup attempts and where the opposition is weak and divided
Journalist Mahamat Adamou says markets and shops are open as usual in the capital, N’Djamena, but people are still keeping their children away from school.
Tanks and heavy artillery are still deployed around the presidency, though rebel group Fact (the Front for Change and Concord in Chad) says it will briefly halt its advance south to respect the nation in mourning.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
