In Chad, opening of “inclusive national dialogue” to break the political impasse

Published on: 08/20/2022 – 09:49 Several times postponed, an “inclusive national dialogue” opens on Saturday in Chad, supposed to lead to democratic elections and restore power to civilians. For the occasion, two great figures of the rebellion returned to Ndjamena on Thursday to take part in the discussions. The “inclusive national dialogue” between the civil opposition and the ruling junta in Chad, which has been postponed several times, opens on Saturday August 20 for three weeks with the aim of “turning the page” on the transition and allowing the organization of ” free and democratic elections”. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who came to power in April 2021 at the head of a Transitional Military Council (CMT) after the death of his father Idriss Déby, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, had promised to organize a dialogue with the opposition to allow the return of power to civilians, within 18 months, renewable once. Some 1,400 delegates, members of trade unions, political parties and the CMT , will meet for 21 days at the Palais du 15 Janvier, in the heart of the capital N’Djamena, to discuss the reform of institutions and a new Constitution, which will then be submitted to a referendum. The issues of peace and fundamental freedoms will also be discussed. The delegates will meet in different commissions. “Mahamat Idriss Déby is due to deliver an opening speech around 10 a.m., and the work of the dialogue will begin on Sunday or Monday,” Saleh Kebzabo, a former presidential candidate and opponent, told AFP. to Idriss Déby, first vice-president of the organizing committee for the inclusive national dialogue (CODNI). “Not all the delegates will be able to be present from the start, as some come from within the country,” he continued. The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat , must also speak for the opening of the dialogue.”Rebuilding Chad”This dialogue, which was initially to be held in February before being postponed several times, opens less than two weeks after the signing, in Doha, of an agreement between the Chadian junta and around forty rebel groups. This agreement signed on August 8 allows the rebels to participate in the dialogue. “We signed this agreement to rebuild Chad,” said AFP Timan Erdimi, leader of the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR), returned Thursday in N’Djamena after several years of exile to participate in dialogue, as did Mahamat Nouri, head of the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD). UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres congratulated Chad for this dialogue, in which he hailed a “historic opportunity to lay new foundations for the stability” of the country. Chad, independent from France since 1960, has experienced numerous coups and attempts during its history. “This dialogue should enable us to put the use of arms definitively behind us,” said Abderamane Koulamallah, government spokesman. According to a decree signed on Wednesday by the head of the junta, Mahamat Idriss Déby, this dialogue will have a ” sovereign” and its decisions will be “binding”. “The President of the Transitional Military Council, President of the Republic, Head of State, is the guarantor”, specifies the decree. of the main rebel groups at the origin of the offensive which cost the life of Idriss Déby, has not signed the Doha agreement and will not participate in the dialogue considering it “biased in advance”. Wakit Tamma, a coalition of opposition parties and members of civil society, also refused to participate in the dialogue, accusing the junta of perpetuating “human rights violations” and preparing a presidential candidacy for General Déby, who had committed, at the beginning of the transition, not to appear. The appointment of delegates is also strongly criticized. “We estimate that 80% of the members are close to the junta,” said Succès Masra, head of the Transformers party, a member of Wakit Tamma. Mahamat Idriss Déby had to give pledges to the international community to whom he promised to return power to civilians within 18 months, and not to stand in future elections. But the head of the junta in June 2021 struck a first blow to his promises, considering an 18-month extension of the transition and handing over his “destiny” to “God” on a possible presidential candidacy. With AFP