The rebel forces in Chad confirmed that they are continuing their way to the capital, N'Djamena, hours after the army announced the death of President Mohamed Idriss Deby, and the formation of a military council to lead the country in a transitional period.

The rebels pledged Tuesday evening to reach N'Djamena, and "categorically refused" the formation of the Transitional Military Council headed by Idriss Deby's son.

"We categorically reject the transitional phase, and we intend to continue the attack," said the spokesperson for the Rotation and Consensus Front, Kenjabi Oguzemi de Taboul.

"Chad is not governed by a monarchy," he added. "There should be no transfer of power from father to son."

He continued, "Our forces are on their way to N'Djamena, but we will leave between 15 and 28 hours for the children of Deby, to bury their father, according to customs."

The Accord Front for Change (the opposition) announced its rejection of the de facto policy and submission to "any entity that exercises power with violence," and said it would fight "the military regime that has lasted for three decades."

The Front affirmed its opposition to every regime based on oppression, dictatorship and the exploitation of religion, as it put it.

In turn, the opposition Working and Justice Group said that Chad is not a kingdom, and that power cannot be transferred between members of the ruling family, adding that the "National Resistance Forces" are moving at this moment towards the capital.

On the other hand, the head of the Popular Movement for Reform in Chad, Baba Laddi, expressed his support for the establishment of a military council headed by the son of the country's president, Idriss Deby.

"I ask all political-military movements to agree and support the courage of this young general who presides over this council so that calm and stability remain. This transitional phase must be managed with great wisdom, and the generals around him are personalities we can rely on," he said.

Earlier, Al-Jazeera correspondent Fadl Abdul Razzaq said that Déby was personally leading battles against armed movements, and added that after the announcement of his death, a limited deployment of the army was carried out in the vicinity of the presidential palace in the capital, N'Djamena.

In its televised statement, the army said, "The President of the Republic, Idriss Déby Itno, breathed his last, defending the unity and integrity of the territories on the battlefield."

The army stated that Déby (68 years) was killed while "confronting terrorists from Libya in the north," and that he was inspecting the Chadian fighting forces.

Battles have been raging for days in the Ziki district of Kanem (north of the country) between government forces and armed movements, and hundreds of people have been killed.

And the US embassy in Chad warned this week of armed groups moving towards the capital, N'Djamena, and called on its non-essential diplomats to leave the country, saying that those groups are close to the capital.

Deby - who ruled Chad for 30 years - was about to start his sixth term, after the Election Commission announced Monday his re-election with 79.32% of the vote in the presidential poll that took place on April 11th.

Transitional Military Council

After announcing the president's death, the army spokesman, General Azim Bermando Aguna, said - in a statement read on the national radio - that "a military council was formed under the leadership of his son, General Muhammad Idris Deby Itno (also known as General Muhammad Kaka)," and added that "the council met immediately." He announced the power transfer charter. "

The army said that the Transitional Military Council would manage the country's affairs for a period of 18 months, and “guarantee its unity and stability.” It added that the council would announce a charter on dissolving parliament and the government, and at the same time called on “all Chadians at home and abroad to dialogue,” and said that it would work to form a government. And transitional institutions that oversee the organization of elections.

The army immediately announced a series of exceptional measures, including curfews in all parts of the country between 6 pm and 5 am, and the closure of all land and sea ports of the country until further notice.

The Chadian capital is witnessing a cautious calm, as the army maintained the deployment of its tanks in the vicinity of the presidential palace and the nearby intersections.

The Al-Jazeera correspondent indicated that the country's constitution stipulates that the speaker of parliament shall assume the presidency of the country temporarily upon the death of the president or his inability to perform his duties.

Jonathan Ove Ansa, editor-in-chief of Africa Briefing, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that what is happening in Chad is a military coup, and it is not excluded that Déby was killed by one of his generals.

He believed that the army’s announcement of its death during the battles with the armed movements was not logical, after the authorities said that they had succeeded in repelling the rebels from the capital, N'Djamena.

International positions

For its part, Paris stressed the importance of a "peaceful transfer" of power in Chad, its ally in the Sahel region.

France - the former colonial power of Chad - considers Déby's regime a major partner in the war against "extremist Islamic movements in the Sahel."

"Chad has lost a president who has worked relentlessly for the security of the country and the stability of the region for 30 years," the statement said. "France has lost a brave friend."

Paris stressed the importance of "the transitional phase taking place in peaceful conditions, in a spirit of dialogue with all political parties and civil society, and allowing the speedy return to a government that includes everyone and depends on civil institutions."

In an interview with Al-Jazeera, the White House spokeswoman condemned the violence in Chad, and affirmed Washington's support for the peaceful transfer of power in accordance with the constitution.

The European Union called on all parties to exercise restraint, respect human rights, and hold inclusive elections.

As for the African Commission, it announced, through its president, Moussa, its condolences, describing the late president as a great statesman.

For its part, the State of Qatar affirmed its support for what meets the aspirations of the Chadian people for security, a decent life, and preserves the stability of the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi praised Idriss Déby's efforts in serving African causes, describing him as a patriotic and wise leader.

In an obituary message, the Sovereignty Council in Sudan praised "Déby's effective contributions in serving the causes of the African continent."