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‘Do not mix truth with falsehood’: Mahamat Deby’s reaction to Niger claims

September 2, 2026

By Djinodji SOLMENGAR Rodrigue

President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has posted a Quranic verse after Nigerien authorities accused Chad and other countries of involvement in an alleged foiled coup attempt in Niamey.

Mahamat Deby shared the verse from Al-Baqara, 2:42, which reads: “And do not mix truth with falsehood or conceal the truth knowingly.”

The head of state did not directly mention Niger or respond explicitly to the accusations in his post.

Nigerien authorities have accused Chad, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, France and ECOWAS of being linked to the alleged coup attempt. The claims, attributed to Captain Roger Gabriel of Niamey’s 1st Parachute Battalion, have circulated on Facebook.

Mahamat Deby’s post comes amid heightened regional tensions following the reported attempt to seize power in Niger.

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar

Djinodji Solmengar Rodrigue is a journalist with MRTV English, Chad’s first English-language media outlet, where he led English-language news coverage at its launch. Based in N’Djamena, his reporting explores political, economic, and social developments, with particular attention to everyday realities, informal sectors, and cultural life. His work also extends to football and broader societal issues, approached through field reporting and in-depth storytelling. Beyond reporting, Djinodji regularly conducts interviews focused on education, including the teaching of English in Chad, as well as conversations (with AFROTRONIX, to name a few) on culture and music. He is also active as an English–French interpreter, working alongside international media professionals. In this capacity, he recently supported and interpreted for a delegation of foreign journalists, including BBC representatives, during the PND Chad Connexion 2030 mission. Alongside his professional practice, Djinodji is pursuing a PhD, with research centered on the presence of China and Russia in Africa as portrayed in selected Commonwealth online media. His academic interests lie at the intersection of media, geopolitics, and discourse analysis. Earlier in his career, he taught English and authored a Master’s thesis examining the contextualization of English language teaching in Chad, reflecting a sustained engagement with educational challenges and policy.

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