Chad’s President Idriss Déby has died suddenly in clashes with rebels in the north of the country at the weekend, the army has said on state TV.
His death came shortly after provisional election results which projected he would win a sixth term in office, with 80% of the vote.
The government and parliament have been dissolved. A military council will govern for the next 18 months.
Mr Déby came to power in an armed uprising in 1990.
He had gone to the front line at the weekend to visit troops battling rebels based across the border in Libya.
Meanwhile, General Mahamat Kaka, the son of the deceased Chadian president, Idriss Deby has been named the interim Head of the State of the country.
Army Spokesman, General Azem Bermandoa Agouna announced this minutes after the death of Idriss Deby.
General Azem had earlier confirmed that the late President of Chad “has just breathed his last defending the sovereign nation on the battlefield”.
Deby won his sixth term in provisional election results released on Monday.
