(Credit: Diplomatic Times)  United Nations world headquarters in New York,  NY

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK –     UN Secretary-General António Guterres is urging  all players in Chad to work toward the de-escalation of tensions, sustaining peace and preventing violence and stability amid the sudden death of President Idriss Déby.  The late president  was killed apparently while on the front lines fighting rebels, the Army confirmed. His son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, 37, a four-star general, has assumed power of the  oil-rich  north-central Africa. 

“Our current focus remains of the de-escalation of tensions, on sustaining peace and preventing violence and instability. We understand that the African Union Peace and Security Council met yesterday to consider the situation in Chad.  We are working with them, as well as the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) to explore options on how best to support peace and stability in the country. We are calling on all actors to remain calm and refrain from any violence that could harm civilians and further complicate an already difficult situation.”

 -Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for  Secretary-General Guterres said. 

The UNSC spokesman added that throughout this “pivotal moment” the UN Resident Coordinator and the entire UN system in the country continue to support Chad on all issues related to development, peacebuilding and humanitarian response, in coordination with national and international partners.  Déby had just been declared the winner on Monday of the April 11 presidential election taking nearly 80 percent of the vote.  The Chadian army reported on Monday it had killed 300 rebels who waged a major incursion into the north of the country one week ago.  The circumstances of Déby’s death remains uncertain at the moment.  Déby’s  son will  be in charge of a  15-member military transitional council for a period of 18 months.