1000’s mourn Chad’s Idriss Deby, rebels say their command hit by airstrike

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Mourners included President Emmanuel Macron of France, which counted on the long-ruling strongman as a lynchpin in the war against Islamist militants, and a host of African presidents and prime ministers.

Rebel forces meanwhile said their command center was bombed on Wednesday night in an attempt to kill their own leader.

The rebels swept south this month across the vast desert nation from their bases in Libya towards N’Djamena and say they are about 200-300 kilometers (125-190 miles) from the capital. They called a temporary ceasefire to allow Deby’s funeral to take place.

Before the ceremony on Friday morning, Macron and regional leaders met with Deby’s son Mahamat Idriss Deby and members of the military transition council that has taken charge in N’Djamena.

They offered their common support towards a civilian-military transition in Chad for the good of regional stability, a French presidency source said.

“Unity of views. The G5 is mobilized alongside Chad,” the source said.

Chadian soldiers carry Deby's coffin  at his funeral on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during Deby's funeral on Friday.

The…

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