The Chadian government has announced that a newly constructed stadium in the capital, N’Djamena, will be named in honour of the late President Idriss Déby Itno, recognising his role in initiating the project.
The decision was made official through a government decree issued on 13 May. The stadium, located in the Mandjaffa district, becomes the second major facility in the country to bear Déby’s name, following the Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium.
With a seating capacity of 30,000, the venue is Chad’s largest and is expected to open in the coming months. The project was funded by the People’s Republic of China, and a dedicated committee has already been established to oversee its inauguration.
The late president, who held the title of Marshal, laid the foundation stone for the stadium in 2019. His death in April 2021 occurred during a military operation in northern Chad, where he was leading troops against the rebel group FACT (Front for Change and Concord in Chad).
Following his passing, his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was named transitional leader and later elected president under the new Fifth Republic.
