Idris Deby Itno: Longevity Political Regime Of a Western Ally, Yet Collapsed With Asterisk To Both Egocentrism, Developmental And Democratic Consolidation in Chad -By Abubakar Inusa Abubakar

“Here I am, here I will stay” legendary words of Field Marshal MacMahoon during the siege of Sabastapol in 1885, who went on to become President of France, but turned out to be a mediocre politician.

General Idris Deby Itno is one among the hierarchical order of African longest serving leaders. It was of no doubt about the notion of how Idris Deby have contributed immensely his quota to the transformation, upbringing, and stability of Chad during his long elongated regime. He was considered as a western ally who has very good and sound political ties with western super hegemons, to many is because of his stringent and pungent policies when it comes to fighting against terrorism, extremism, and insurgency that complied with western paradigm and perspectives. This gave him a warm bond of political ties and alliance with western super powers, despite his undemocratic motive to retain and perpetuate himself into power. Deby worked hard both ruthless and tireless to fight and wipe out all sorts of terror and political unrest in order to stabilize and maintain peace and order and also ensure absolute well guarded protection to his bloody hard earned political sovereignty and territory being it arbitrarily or confrontational, being it political or militarily with single solid unilateral aim of retaining his political power. Numerous ideals were geared in but fallout in justifying 3 consecutive decades of a political regime that ghostly pretends to be democratic. It is intriguing and obnoxious to ape a 30 years rule with democracy, it is incompatible.

It was unanimously agreed that no one will complete a job description of leadership, rather to put in the best and leave the rest with prudence of handing over. End is not the end, it’s not over until it’s over, for it is promising to witness the bloody and disastrous end to a political regime that is accompanied and orchestrated with draconian behaviour under the iron hands of a dictator, a regime remarkably obscured with gross violation of human rights and abuse of power, a regime with huge tons of corruption simultaneously with impunity, a corrupt and impoverish political regime that left millions in an extreme poverty and dislodgement of shelter with 66.2% of its 15.5 million population in severe poverty (According to world food programme, WFP 2020 index) making the country 187^th out of 189 countries in the 2019 human development index. Similarly in the 2020 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Chad republic was ranked 107^th out of the 107 countries captured in the survey making it the top hunger nation in the world, but despite all odds Deby in 2012 was paid a dowry of $26 million in marriage of his wife (Amani Musa Hila).

Deby’s regime was arguably a regime with unprecedented level of nepotism in the history of Chad and Africa with:

1. Zakaria Idris Deby (his son) is the ambassador of Chad to the United Arab Emirate.
2. Mahamat Idris Deby (his son & the new President) who until few days ago was the general director for the security service of the state institution (GDSSSI).

• Seid Idris Deby (his son) is also a deputy director of Chad’s national refinery.

1. Hissein Idris Deby (his son) is the general director of Rahad Chad.
2. General Nasouri Idris Deby (his son), the President’s (Idris Deby) private chief of staff.
3. Colonel Kerim Idris Deby (his son) is the military coordinator at the department of foreign affairs.

• Hinda Deby (his wife) served as private secretary to the president, before she personally steps down to focus on her foundation.

Few to mention among others, yet Deby remain defiant to protect by hook or crook his political power through dictatorship, silencing opposition, new controversial tenure limitless bill, and all tactical history-oriented apparatus of shielding and preserving power notwithstanding the terminal end of each and every villain dictator in power which is a downfall to a mediocre politician and a bloody end or disrespectful end like that of hallucinated dying rat, as seen in the last two and a half decades in African political scene with the demise of Nigerian head of state, General Sani Abacha that took Nigerians out of the street in celebration, the overthrow of Ugandan dictator & head of state, General Idi Amin Dada who later turned to be a lay and fearful General that have never even once steps in his legs into Ugandan land until his death, and last to mention among others was 2012 Arab spring that have took down and collapsed the turbulent, deadly, and merciless political regime of General Muammar Gaddafi of Libya (Head of state and president of Libya).

A new dawn for Chad is here at the end of exactly 3 consecutive political tenure of Idris Deby even with the implicit of western powers (France in particular) to pass over a republic from a father to his son as seen in the Syrian power changeover from Father (Asad) to his son (Bashar Al-asad), which according to Obeida Hanas (a member of the Syrian National council) United State of America and its ally and other western super powers were implicit in the dramatic changeover or transfer of power of a republic from father to son. In the case of Chad it seems to be portraying the same pattern to that of Syria as the President of France (Emmanuel Macron) was quoted at the Deby’s funeral speech saying “We will surely keep promise of Chad republic” without agitating for democratic transition, the statement that drew different interpretations from different media source, but yet Chad can rise again by dare looking at the past ills of the former President and at the same time making a paradigm shift that is seems to be more conventional and democratic than dictatorial one.

Finally, it is quiet necessary and imperative to ascertain and acknowledge the legacies left by Idris Deby as those legacies will shape and predict the future of Chad republic, among of which how Deby worked hard in the mid 1990’s to burst and proliferate the oil production capacity of Chad; the formation of strong virile forces to fight terrorism, insurgency, and rebels; Cordial relationship of Chad with both Western, Asian, and African countries resulting from the diplomatic skills qualities of Deby. Similarly on the other hand Deby left behind other legacies that are inimical to the future and political landscape of Chad, for instance his son Mahamat Idris deby that succeed him in power would have no hope than to build an empire like that of his father with hope for his children also to succeed him in power because that dogmatic mindset of self perpetuation to power perhaps will continue to flourish in their creed while risking and jeopardizing the long decadent democratization in Chad, thereby succumbing their political democracy to anarchy. Its pertinent for African leaders to caution themselves about power and self perpetuation into power as the end of every dictator in power is filthy, mediocrity, and dishonoured one. Peaceful retirement with love, coloured decorative honours and influence is better than dishonourable power.

May God Bless Africa.

Abubakar Inusa Abubakar (abubakarinusaabubakar@gmail.com), +2348038982568