The Times reported, citing officials, that the rebels who pledged to seize power in Chad after the death of its president, Idriss Deby, this week, were trained in neighboring Libya by Russian mercenaries linked to the Kremlin.

The British newspaper reported that the fighters of the Accord Front for Change in Chad (FACT) were working for the Wagner Group - a paramilitary group run by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin - to work alongside them during the Libyan civil war.

It is noteworthy that President Deby (68 years) died of wounds sustained during a visit to the front on Monday, where his forces were fighting the Fakt rebels.

The rebels declared a ceasefire pending today's funeral, which will be attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, the main international supporter of Chad, but have pledged to advance to the capital N'Djamena at the end of the week from their position 150 miles (241 km) away.

The newspaper indicated in its report that the rebels received reinforcements with equipment that were available to them in Libya and support forces estimated at about two thousand people.

She added that Macron's attendance at the funeral - in defiance of Fact's warning to stay away - underscores the importance of his country’s reliance on the new military council in Chad, which was installed after Déby's death and headed by his son Mohamed Déby (37 years), a general with 4 stars.

France deploys at least 5,000 soldiers in the capital, N'Djamena, as part of international operations to fight what it describes as Islamic militants in neighboring countries.

Yesterday, France defended the army’s takeover as necessary in "exceptional circumstances."

The newspaper indicated that the former president - an experienced combat pilot who received training in France - had always been a main pillar of France's security strategy in Africa.

On the other hand, his cruel and corrupt dictatorship remained unchecked for 3 decades.

It is reported that France deploys at least 5,000 soldiers in the capital, N'Djamena, as part of international operations to fight what it describes as Islamic militants in neighboring countries.

The newspaper reported that Russia took advantage of the turmoil in African pockets to reignite its influence on the continent that collapsed after the Soviet era.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in post-Gaddafi Libya, where the Wagner group - the Kremlin's de facto agents in Africa - capitalized on links with insurgents in a volatile region.

He added that the rebels in Fakt, intent on seizing power in the strategically located country in Africa, could prove valuable allies.