Chad: The demotion of a general close to the president reveals the fractures within the Itno clan
A dramatic demotion within the army
The Chadian political scene was shaken on the weekend of April 12 and 13, 2025 , after the announcement of the demotion of Abdelrahim Bahar Mahamat Itno , cousin of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno , from the rank of five-star general to that of private 2nd class , followed by his dismissal from the army . The government referred to a “serious error” , without providing further details.
Shortly after, a voice message from the deposed general , circulating on social networks, revealed a virulent stance : Abdelrahim denounced a corrupt power and called on his family to overthrow the regime .
An internal crisis that intensifies within the ruling clan
This decision illustrates the growing tensions within the Itno clan , once united around the late President Idriss Déby Itno . This is not the first time that a high-ranking member of the presidential family has been publicly sanctioned for disagreement. Sociologist Gondeu Ladiba points out that this is the third or fourth general from the inner circle to fall foul of the current president.
According to him, beyond political differences, there is a redistribution of economic power . Influential figures of the clan have been excluded from strategic sectors , such as transport or gold mining , causing strong resentment .
A message of firmness in a tense regional context
For Laurent Marchal , a researcher specializing in Chad, this sanction sends a clear signal to the army and members of the clan tempted to support Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan , at war since 2023. The president is seeking to prevent any transfer of loyalty to Darfur , a neighboring region in the grip of a major armed conflict .
A recent presidential decree also provides for the removal and loss of nationality of any Chadian soldier joining a foreign conflict, an unprecedented measure intended to strengthen control over the Defense and Security Forces .
Conclusion
The dramatic demotion of Abdelrahim Bahar Mahamat Itno highlights the internal fractures of a power long perceived as monolithic . Between family power struggles , restructuring of economic influence and risks of military dissidence in an explosive regional context , President Mahamat Idriss Déby is trying to regain control . But this firm strategy could, in the long term, further weaken the balance of the regime .
