Chad’s President Idriss Deby, who was recently re-elected for his sixth term, got injured during clashes with rebels and died in a hospital, a source said on Tuesday.

The AFP reported earlier in the day that Deby, who commanded an army unit during hostilities against the rebels in Chad’s north, died.

The military spokesman, Azem Bermandoa Agouna, said that the president died while protecting the country’s territorial integrity, according to the news agency.

The source said that Deby was critically injured during the clashes and died later in the hospital.

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The source added that the president arrived at the front line in the north to celebrate the military victories against the rebels and lead the operations of the armed forces.