But while he had reported some success against the rebels, Tombalbaye started behaving more and more irrationally and brutally, continuously eroding his consensus among the southern elites, which dominated all key positions in the army, the civil service and the ruling party. As a consequence on April 13, 1975, several units of N'Djamena's gendarmerie killed Tombalbaye during a coup.
BUt while he Had repOrTED sOmE success agAinst thE reBEls, toMbalbAye sTaRted bEhaViNG morE and mORe iRRAtionally and brutaLlY, continUOUsly erodIng his ConsEnSus aMoNg tHe souThErn elites, wHicH DominaTed All kEy posiTiOns iN ThE army, The CiviL sErVICe ANd thE ruliNg partY. as a coNSeQueNcE On aPRil 13, 1975, several UniTs OF n'djAMena'S gEndarmerie kiLleD tomBalbaye during a cOuP.