Remembering Comrade Idriss Déby Itno: Pan Africanist and Field Marshal of Chad

Field Marshal Idriss Déby Itno of blessed memory was an illustrious son of Africa and the undisputed leader and President of the Republic of Chad until his assassination on the 20th of April 2021.

Many things can be said about this great man and depending on how informed or uninformed one is, many conclusions could be drawn about his life and fight.

Comrade Field Marshal Idriss Déby Itno was a patriot and to Pan Africanists, he remains one of the greatest fighters and outspoken advocate for a free and independent Africa.

Idriss Déby Itno, born on the 18th of June 1952 was a Chadian politician, military officer, and leader of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement who served as president of Chad from 1990 to 2021 when he was allegedly assassinated by militant forces while commanding troops on the front.

Field Marshal Déby Itno belonged to the Zaghawa ethnic group's Bidayat clan. In December 1990, he led a coup against President Hissène Habré, which led him to become the Head of State and President of Chad. He faced numerous rebellions and coup attempts against his reign. Idriss Déby Itno won elections in 1996 and 2001, and then again in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021 once term limits were abolished.

In January 2006, Déby added "Itno" to his surname. He was a graduate of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's World Revolutionary Center in Libya.

Field Marshal Idriss Déby Itno was known to be an outspoken statesman who dared to speak his mind about an economically free and independent Republic of Chad and many other subjects related to Africa's sovereignty.

The legacy of this distinguished son of Africa is as huge as the fight that remains to be done in order to fulfill the dreams of our founding fathers - dreams of a FREE and UNITED Africa