A Chadian court ruled today, Tuesday, to sentence 441 rebels to life in prison in connection with the killing of former President Idriss Déby, who was killed on the frontlines in a battle against rebels in 2021, according to a lawyer representing them. The trial of 465 members of the Chadian rebel group Front for Change and Concord, based in Libya, began on February 13 in the capital N'Djamena.
The criminal chamber of the N'Djamena appellate court convicted 441 defendants of terrorism, undermining national security, and endangering the life of the head of state, among other charges. Among the convicted was the leader of the Front for Change and Concord, Mahamat Mahdi.
The defendants' lawyer, Francis Doulkodi, stated that they were sentenced to life imprisonment and would have to pay compensation to the state. He explained that the remaining defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, adding that his team would appeal to the Supreme Court.
Adoum Chouimi, spokesperson for the Front for Change and Concord, stated that the trial was flawed and affirmed that "the struggle that led us to resort to arms will continue." Déby (68 years old) was shot while visiting troops on the frontlines against the Islamic Action Front rebels, who had advanced south from Chad's northern border with Libya towards the capital. Déby held the position of head of state since 1990 and survived numerous coup attempts and rebellions, making him one of the longest-serving leaders on the continent.
