The Rise and Fall of Idriss Déby: Chad's No-nonsense Autocratic Leader

On 20 April 2021, news emerged that Idriss Deby, the long-time leader of the country of Chad, had died after he had gone to the front-line to visit his troops that were battling rebels belonging to a group calling itself Fact (the Front for Change and Concord in Chad).
In his 30 years as Chad's president, Idriss Deby emerged as one of Africa's wiliest political survivors, holding on to power through rebellions that reached as far as his palace gates and establishing himself as a key military ally of Western powers.
As a military commander and as president he was feared and people say he had an aura about him that meant they did not want to mess with him. And he never hesitated to crack down whenever there was some kind of threat.
Now that the dust has settled, in this episode of African Biographics, we look at the story of Idriss Deby and how he managed to hold on to power for such a long time.
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Sources:
www.sahistory.org.za/place/chad
www.africanews.com/2021/04/20...
www.britannica.com/biography/...
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa...
www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/wo...
www.theguardian.com/world/202...
www.thenewhumanitarian.org/fe...
www.theafricareport.com/81574...
www.hrw.org/news/2021/04/21/r...
www.globalsecurity.org/milita...
www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/03/q...
issafrica.org/iss-today/whate...
www.hrw.org/report/2016/06/28...
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa...
www.africanews.com/2021/08/24...
foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/24/...
www.brookings.edu/blog/order-...
www.theguardian.com/world/200...
issafrica.org/research/books-...
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Music:
Interloper Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
John Stockton Slow Drag by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/uvp/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/
Desert City by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com/
Mercy by Kai Engel
Harbor by Kai Engel
Realness by Kai Engel
All Kai Engel music used is under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License
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#Chad #IdrissDeby

[@musengademiassinkala7290]

It's another master piece of well tailored documentary. I have observed that most african rebels and leaders have the interest of the people before going into office but once there power gets hold of their noble heads and they go wayward In the opposite of their ideologies and this is a typical example. Thank you for this piece.

[@seanbryan1739]

They are selfish. After Washington defeated the British, he became President. But once his term finished, he left office.

[@kenoglesby5840]

The old saying still rings true "Power corrupts & absolute power corrupts absolutely".🤔

[@musengademiassinkala7290]

I concur with you, one may be a genius in field military experience but poor in maning a public office

[@omesonyabs5244]

@@seanbryan1739 There were no western powers threatening Washington or his country.

[@onecooldude954]

@omonil Biff ...Plausible.

[@Pqloi]

I am a Christian from southern Chad and would like to congratulate you on the excellent job. You seem to be knowledgeable in the history of Chad. Revelation 13: 10 says: “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” God granted Deby his wish because he had said on many occasions: "I came to power by fire and must be removed with fire." The same fate awaits his son who usurped power just like his father. My father joined the military in the mid-70's as a teenager and was trained for several years overseas. He is presently colonel while unexperienced and incompetent lads in their 20's and 30's are three or four-star generals in poor Chad. Pathetic, just pathetic.......

[@kinguche9208]

Nice explanation 💯👍🏾 he got what he deserves

[@hamskyxxx]

Your dad joined the military in the 70s and is still a Colonel. That says a lot.

[@ogbonnagerrardgeorge45]

quite bad

[@user-hh9dc7hr2w]

@@hamskyxxx Don't underestimate the power of favoritism.. High political friends is important in autocratic states. One wrong word at the wrong time and your military career is over regardless of your capabilities or education.. Same as higher education in general.. Not a military expert but I do know that at a certain rank military forces further promotions are going to require bachelor degrees and more to get the next promotions in officer ranks.. The random conscript turned career soldier without that degree will never, ever going to be promoted past a certain rank regardless of how good you perform or qualified for a position you are in every other aspect sadly.. Unless again it is some political assignment.

[@outerspace7391]

​@@user-hh9dc7hr2wImportant correction: that's not the case in autocratic states, its the case of nepotistic states. I live in Greece, which even though not truly free, it cannot be described as authoritarian as Chad is, it's however extremely nepotistic, Chad levels nepotistic. A few families control the politics of the state and favouritism or patrons from parties play a big role for success in the country, especially the army. All higher-ups are party members either the governing one or the second largest one in the opposition. Clarifying, autocratic states are not necessarily nepotistic. Dare I say nepotism is far worse...

[@kinguche9208]

He understood that without the military there will not be a stable Chad 🇹🇩 This man killed a lot of terrorist for the weak government of Nigeria, Cameroon and other Western African government. Tho his not good but a stronger man bring peace in a country

[@AfricanBiographics]

That's a fair point

[@nicolast7644]

Cameroon hasn't been weak in the fight against terrorism, it has successfully fought Boko Haram since 2015, the only military that was a total liability from the beginning was Nigeria, allegedly due to its internal issues.

[@philthornton1382]

What you mean is, he was a tyrant

[@kinguche9208]

@@philthornton1382 that’s what you mean don’t be stupid on somes comment

[@mussababu5623]

The good side of Deby was to liberate Nigeria from Boko Haram which terrorized Nigeria.His strong hand ended ISIS and Jojo Haram. But power corrupt him and turned to be a dictator.

[@Praktical_]

Another amazing video! I think people really have no idea (myself included) how complex and interesting the situations and events of Africa are. So many amzing stories have come from this continent and you do an amazing job educating people about them.

[@tacocruiser4238]

Gotta respect any leader that dies in battle. This dude was no palace prince.

[@marandymbamara9099]

Please do a documentary on John Okello the leader of Zanzibar revolution! In all honesty Zanzibar was the only successful complete overthrow of the existing colonial social order in Africa. Kindly do this to educate many who didn't know about this important part of African history. Thanks for your great jobs so far

[@AfricanBiographics]

Awesome, thanks for the suggestion

[@TR3VORKATUNGI]

Our Ugandan son. It would be interesting to learn more about John Okello

[@KLF2323]

@@AfricanBiographics this sounds very interesting!

[@johnmcdonald9295]

The British put an end to the Islamic slave trade in Zanzibar,some people probably think the British should not interfere in African and Muslim business

[@destroyerarmor2846]

Puppet of France. In the end France gave him the ultimate reward

[@Therongunner]

Who is not a puppet of someone in Africa?

[@destroyerarmor2846]

@@Therongunner they will all get their rewards

[@Therongunner]

@@destroyerarmor2846 Only economic freedom and military power make you less of puppet.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@Therongunner But ironically having little domestic industry to facilitate said economic freedom relying on foreign aid. Military power while letting the population starve.

[@Therongunner]

@@shauncameron8390 Economic freedom implies less hunger;more jobs etc.

[@Whiterhabber]

Truly my favorite channel at the moment. I have really found no better place for an unbiased, entirely consistent resource for these all too often forgotten portions of modern/world history. Keep it up, friends.

[@risk0systemsuk171]

He was in Accra in 2017/18. I bumped into him and his whole entourage in amidst heavy security in Holiday INN Accra. He seemed very cool and relaxed.

[@tamimahmed7857]

A warrior always dies as a warrior.

[@ritchiekarani2620]

live by the sword, die by the sword

[@hafizmuhammad9175]

tabbas

[@deepanshchaudhary5094]

Corrupt warrior

[@toyinayetigbo4570]

They that live by the sword shall die by the sword, says the Bible

[@AtomicZamurai]

A corrupted one

[@jaywolfdesigns]

love this channel, cant get enough, so interesting and great narrating 🙏🇺🇲

[@chrisbrown-ty6lp]

Thanks for doing these biographies, they are interesting and full of information about people most do not know about

[@Therongunner]

There is a saying where I come from: "A hunter of elephants gets killed by elephants".

[@iamtompte]

Are you from Thailand?

[@kenoglesby5840]

A very insightful, educational & well done documentary. Chad is a linchpin in central Africa. I pray that it & its neighbors may find peace & prosperity in self-reliance & self-determination🤔

[@JohnMiller-bs2ln]

Of course the former leader of a country named Chad had to be a literal over the top Chad.

[@KingofAwesomness14]

another man that could have been amazing but once he had power. it went to his head and destroyed him. Dude was good in military affairs but that's all i can give him.

[@loucarrier2138]

Exceptional historic content and presented relevance. Well done!

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thank you Lou

[@clehanavi9562]

Excellent work, i enjoy your true & fair documentation. Salute! Keep telling as it is. Great Love from Namibia🇳🇦🇳🇦🇳🇦 Long Live Africa.

[@BMC-hl2uh]

Another wonderful presentation. Congratulations.

[@obamabiden]

i never thought in the 2020s you would hear of a head of state dying in a battle, but it did happen

[@Beloved5]

Good narration there Tatenda, keep up the good job...well researched

[@CoffeeSuccubus]

Idriss died the way he did: He came to power bloodily, and died bloodily on his way out

[@georgejuma9221]

Exactly and he deserves that

[@TheGrenadier97]

Amazing job! Now i remember hearing something about his death back in 2021. Well done.

[@bulusgarba288]

Idris Derby was a hero despite his shortcomings. May there be peace in Sub Saharan Africa.

[@jackholman5008]

There's no such thing as subsaran africa

[@previousvladimirchaka6442]

Excellent Documentary from an African voice. Well done! 👏🏾

[@sinoxolodlutu1949]

I appreciate this good work. It's really informative ♥️ Cheers!

[@daveacbickford]

Another amazing video mate! As an Australian we just don't hear about the goings on of countries like Chad, either in the classroom or in the news. These are great videos that provide so much context to post colonial Africa and even the current state of affairs. The power vacuum prospect is truly terrifying for Chad...

[@gameparade4527]

As an Australian I agree

[@outerspace7391]

As a "time traveler" i can confirm that the power vacuum theory was just a hypothesis. Deby's son tool over soon after and proceed with the same stability, yet corrupt nepotistic and prowestern policies

[@MegaJohny56]

Fall? he died in power his troops defeated the assailants and his child took over, is it really a fall?

[@salimi.sheriff7608]

Thanks for uploading ❤

[@napoleontoe4220]

These narratives are sour-sweet, epitomizing good and bad aspects of Derby's hegemony. May his soul rest in peace. African leaders always ignore the concept that "Enough is better than too much." 30 years in power is a criminal conduct. God himself was tired with him. What is next? We will see. For me, I fear the worst for the country.

[@corkcamden9878]

Do you mean "bitter-sweet"?

[@tightcamper]

Very interesting documentary - outstanding and I think it's your best one todate. I remember the war in Chad featuring on the headlines but never followed the stories. I never knew Libya and France were in effect allies. What a strange world.

[@outerspace7391]

The part where he talked about nepotism is spot on, because Idris's son has become the president

[@johnallen7807]

Hmmm?? "Killed on the front line" I wonder which side got him?

[@mountoususu7840]

This documentary is good .why bcoz it opens our minds and know the behaviour of african leaders .keep the work very interesting to listen to. God bless u all.

[@sayfsafullah5295]

At least, he died as a martyrdom defending his country from rebels in the field of War.

[@livingforever6157]

A thief fighting against potential thieves, while the people of Chad lose.

[@joggyjames]

@@livingforever6157 Amen but makes for a good story.

[@mussababu5623]

He was not defending CHAD but defending his rule and corrupt govt he lead. He won election and his soldiers give his deserved prize. By making him to sleep forever. It was a Coup

[@mrgoblueguy]

Thank you for the informative video

[@thedukeofswellington1827]

Interesting...the difference between colonial powers legacy to decolonized states. There are soo many different and new/under researched areas in global history

[@mehmettolgakaratas5219]

Great video

[@hamskyxxx]

Chad's history has a lot of similarities with Syria thanks to kleptomaniac France

[@tsankara2705]

I really enjoy your videos keep the good work

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thanks Trevor

[@Hallstyle]

I respect him wanting to be on the front line but dayum bro he was 68.... He had no business being out there. He had all his family as military leaders he should have had one of his sons in command.

[@staceyadams2272]

Well done. Thank you.

[@kofiagyeibaffour647]

Idriss Derby Itno🔥

[@patrickasongayi521]

Beautiful documentaire

[@user-rm3bj3zq7y]

Please do a documentary on Marcius Nguema of Equatorial Guinea

[@gordonlumbert9861]

Just for the record Chad did have real enemies. A Libyan armored column invaded Chad in the 1980s. It was surprisingly defeated by Toyota trucks with Milan ATGs in the back. Definitely not a standard setup.

[@taen6917]

pls do one about Paul Biya of cameroon ..

[@wasongabiro1246]

Dispite some of his shortcomings iI feel he was a great leader

[@livingforever6157]

No he wasn't. He was a terrible leader. He wanted Chad for himself and his family. He didn't want it for anyone else.

[@jeremybds1901]

Awesome channel

[@AfricanBiographics]

Thanks Jeremy

[@oceejekwam6829]

Does the Nubian Shield extend into Chad? The mineral deposits discovered in Northern Chad sound as if they are part of that geological sequence.

[@jamesbodnarchuk3322]

Sounds like a well rounded chap!

[@nicksminicabs]

“Willyest” - lol great vid though very interesting

[@DaisyGeekyTransGirl]

Chad would probably be richer if they had a dollar for every day they were not at peace in their entire history.

[@ding1466]

I really like reading the comments from Africans and seeing how radically different their beliefs and ideas are about government from USA or the rest of the west.

[@annicettekessely2800]

There was a genocide in 1984 where Idriss Deby groups through Hissen Habre killed all the civil servants in the south of Chad. It’s important to mention the Christian population Genocide in the South of Chad.

[@enningshove3846]

Masterpiece!!!!!!

[@Oxhead]

Respect for this man

[@ryanodonnell319]

iam already confused...idriss, derby , gouqoiuni, wade, habre...ndjamena, rtchad....ghaddaffi

[@ShottaKenya]

Lol, they thought he was going to use oil money to build schools, hospitals, and public utilities

[@mohamedabdelkader8665]

Awesome.

[@mathianggeng121]

U are amazing

[@thefootballaddict8923]

Waiting

[@blessingbikinya3373]

divide and rule has left an unhealing wound amongst us the children of Africa

[@fifalord4811]

Please do a story about General Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

[@seanbryan1739]

He did. KZbin it

[@kinguche9208]

Yes He did for Abacha . I love Abacha

[@DV-lr8ec]

So Debe has set the stage for his family to run the country 🤔

[@hungryburger1170]

This was the leader who fought alongside his soldiers. What a chad move

[@johnyapplesauce8034]

Ive always dreamed of becoming an african or arab dictator or king that would be the fucking life!

[@user-ko7ld1kv8v]

Bror, I hope you add the Arabic translation

[@ifgwelf]

The more I learn about Africa the more I understand them expelling French forces in certain countries.

[@nwntzster]

No one person should be made to run a country for so many years especially, making his children to top positions, exclusively.

[@abdouliebadjie2458]

I live in this country for one year in Chad at the capital njameneh,mongo and bilteng

[@seanbryan1739]

So what’s your thoughts?

[@kinguche9208]

@@seanbryan1739 exactly what’s he thought, can’t be telling people you live The country without explaining his experience in the topic.

[@schizoidboy]

It reminds me of a saying I believe comes from American President Harry Truman and its in regard to France's alliance with Deby. "He's a son-of-a-bitch, but he's our son-of-a-bitch." When it comes to diplomacy you don't always get to pick who you need to ally with, but in this case it seems Deby was very much someone who knew how to operate, especially as a military leader, and by all accounts presented here he was better than most. It's easy to see why France made him an ally.

[@samueljackson6188]

Now that’s a man who knows how to play the game. A mobsters, mobsters!

[@petelawrence1667]

do you guys just wait for them to die, or should we await a deep dive on Museveni and Kagame...and if you wait for them to die, please make a tribute to Pombe Magufuli.

[@patrickkaggwa6328]

You left out Felix Malloum

[@DavidDavid-wf5ug]

Who killed him at line

[@rackcity5981]

Corrupt or not... that's a warrior there

[@elavson96]

Nothing new,on on the fate of third world countries trying to make it on its own.Religious conflict,poverty ridden,corruption in government,foreign debts,all that is a result of external intervention from superpowers . It is a matter of Controls that in the long run finds it hard to sustain from problems brought about by succession issues when a good leader comes to pass.

[@abodeofhaven1]

We are such a pathetic people against ourselves.... So sad indeed.... No continent can boast of resources as Africa and yet , we continue to sell our souls to our detrimental allies

[@criessmiles3620]

My brother We like you but Idriss was actual a front man fighting terrorism among the G5 Sahel states. He was killed because he started to kill actual terrorists from Libya 🇱🇾 nato bombing So be right about this Cheers from west Africa 🦅

[@AfricanBiographics]

It's in the video ☺️, thanks

[@mrsoshadabaadman]

Francophone Africa is neocolonial it seems.

[@anthonychangah4066]

Left with a Bang

[@xhagast]

He came right out of The Prince.

[@michaelsinger4638]

Cannot say He was a good leader. But it takes guts for a president to go to the front lines like that.

[@destroyerarmor2846]

He wasn't wise

[@wotizit2937]

Or foolishbess

[@FckPeace2]

STUDY THE HISTORY.....,🎯

[@petterbirgersson4489]

Chad must invest heavily in education and healthcare. Most importantly, education for girls. It would bolster the economy and somewhat mitigate the population boom.

[@adolfmudau9956]

when are they learning from kagame

[@lamadlamad3676]

he was killed by his own fellow chadians.

[@mohammedadam3346]

He betrayed and died, the agent of France

[@MrMalvolio29]

The word is FOMENTED, *not* “foRmented.” Each time I watch another of these excellent documentaries about the seemingly endless line of petty dictators of so-called “African nations” whose borders on the map reflect much more about past (often French and British) colonial administrative units than they do about any type of “cultural,” “ethnic” “sociolinguistic,” or “national” IDENTITY--I wonder if it would EVER be possible to entirely reorganise at least central, northwest, and east-central Africa into the “TRIBAL” rather than completely fictional “national” political entities that reflect most of the continent’s *original* socioeconomic and ethnic realities… Certainly, the so-called “nations” great European colonial powers created by drawing arbitrary “national boundary lines” (often across more “natural” tribal boundaries) on the map when those European nations “granted” Africa independence--the VAST majority of those fictional African “nation-states” simply HAVE **NEVER** WORKED. To have a multi-ethnic, democratic nation state succeed as they have to a large extent in Europe and North America, that nation-state MUST HAVE THE **INFRASTRUCTURE**, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITIES, *and* WIDESPREAD EDUCATION AND LITERACY to make members of ethnic tribes be willing to **invest** subjectively and psychologically in the concept and mission of such a nation-state rather than their sociolinguistically unified tribal identity. The great majority of African “nations” European colonizers left in their wake HAVE NO SUCH INFRASTRUCTURE; NO SUCH ECONOMIC STABILITY OR OPPORTUNITY; and NO EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM PROMOTING INVESTMENT IN THE IDEA OF *NATIONAL* RATHER THAN *TRIBAL* IDENTITY AND LOYALTY.

[@adolfmudau9956]

he didnt think education is the key that why he kept on fighting

[@celcinfor3534]

Life has no guarantee

[@kasongokampweulu1354]

Governance is not easy at all

[@wahabgambo6920]

Forget him is the problem off Chad

[@khairiafif7881]

King of Chad

[@iok21a]

Romania looks different

[@freeenergyeducationinterna1086]

Its pronounced "wai liiy"

[@asayama333]

An actual chad

[@kwesidiamonds8242]

And all these people are Religious

[@alhajimohammed8729]

Oh Africa when will Africa learn