François Tombalbaye: The Original “Houdini” of African Politics

François Tombalbaye was a politician from Chad who can be accurately described as the Houdini of African politics. He always found a way to escape difficult situations and come out on top, much like the famous magician. He was born in 1918 in the then French Equatorial Africa, but later rose to become the first president of Chad after its independence in 1960.

“Catch me if you can”

Tombalbaye was a shrewd politician and was known for his evasive and cunning tactics. In his early political career, he faced numerous confrontations with authorities for his unconventional views, but he always managed to escape their grasp.

Once, during a police chase, Tombalbaye darted through a crowded marketplace, pursued by several officers. He managed to elude them all by slipping into a nearby stall and putting on a vendor’s apron, pretending he was selling goods. The confused officers searched the market for a while but eventually gave up, leaving Tombalbaye to continue his day.

Bringing order to chaos

Tombalbaye inherited a country torn apart by civil war and ethnic tensions. To bring peace to the country, he had to be creative. One of his legendary tactics was to invite all the warring factions to a banquet at his presidential palace. He then made sure that each faction sat around the table facing an opponent with whom they had the most serious grudges. Miraculously, after the meal, the factions made peace, much to the amazement of onlookers.

Mischievous man

Tombalbaye was known for his mischievous side. Once, during a state visit by a foreign dignitary, he played a practical joke by secretly swapping the interpreter’s translation notes with a list of grocery items. The interpreter unknowingly read out the grocery list, sending the foreign dignitary, and everyone else in the room, into fits of laughter.

“If you want something done, do it yourself”

One of the most famous quotes from Tombalbaye is, “If you want something done, do it yourself.” He embodied this attitude in his everyday life, often taking matters into his own hands when no one else would. For example, he once personally climbed a ladder to fix a light bulb in the presidential palace when maintenance staff said they were too busy to do it.

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