Republic of Chad’s president, Idriss Déby, was killed on the frontline against rebels in his country, Reuters reported.

According to reports, Déby, who ruled the country for over three decades, was an ally for the West against Islamist militants in Africa.

The news of his death was announced on Tuesday, a day after he won presidential re-election with 79% of the vote; it would have been his sixth term in office.

Mahamat Kaka, Déby’s son, was appointed interim president by a council of military officers, according to Reuters.

“Marshal Idriss Déby Itno, as he did each time that the institutions of the republic were gravely threatened, took control of operations during the heroic combat led against the terrorists from Libya. He was wounded during the fighting and died once repatriated to N’Djamena,” spokesman Azem Bermendao Agouna said on state television Monday.