Chad's army says long-serving president Idriss Deby has died from injuries sustained on the front line of a battle against rebel forces.
His death comes just hours after provisional election results put him on course to win a sixth term.
Deby had been president of Chad for more than 30 years.
The government's already been dissolved, replaced by a military council led by Deby's son, a general now named interim president.
African correspondent Phil Ihaza spoke to Corin Dann from Abuja in neighbouring Nigeria.
