 The GNNT is under the control of the Minister for Territorial Administration, unlike the Army and the Gendarmerie, which come under the responsibility of the Minister of Defence.The GNNT is since May 24, 2006 commanded by Brigadier General Mahamat Saleh Brahim, cousin of the President Idriss Déby.The GNNT was first known in the 1960s as the Territorial Guard, but was early renamed in the decade Nomad and National Guard, and carried out much the same duties it does today, that is providing security for officials, government buildings, and regional government posts.