Chad’s military has officially stripped former close aide of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, General Idriss Youssouf Boy, of his rank, demoting him to the status of a second-class soldier and removing him from the armed forces without pension or severance benefits.
The decision follows a high-profile corruption case that has rocked the upper echelons of the Chadian administration. Once the powerful chief of staff to the president, Idriss Youssouf Boy was accused of misappropriating over 11 billion CFA francs.
He was convicted on appeal of passive corruption and influence peddling and has been serving a six-month prison sentence.
The military decree formalising his dismissal underscores that he will not receive any retirement benefits or indemnities, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a figure who once wielded considerable authority within both the government and the army.
Idriss Youssouf Boy’s career trajectory had been remarkable.
A loyal companion of President Déby Itno during the transitional period, he rose swiftly through the ranks, moving from personal secretary to director of the presidential cabinet.
In just two years, he advanced from brigadier general to general of the army corps, a rapid promotion path that had drawn attention in a military where rank advancements are often highly contested and politically sensitive.
Observers say Boy’s dismissal is a signal from the Chadian leadership that corruption at the highest levels will no longer be tolerated, even among those with close ties to the presidency. The case has sparked widespread discussion about accountability and transparency within Chad’s military and political structures.
As the nation continues to navigate post-transition governance, the fall of Idriss Youssouf Boy serves as a stark reminder of both the fragility of power and the consequences of corruption in the country’s elite circles.
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