Smoke erupts from tyres set on fire as people protest in N’Djamena, Chad, October 20, 2022 in this picture obtained from social media. Juda Allahondoum – Le Visionnaire/via REUTERS
On October 20, hundreds of people to the street in Chad, in defiance of a protest ban, to demand a translation from military to civilian rule.
The mass protests mark the date when the military had initially promised to hand over power to an elected civilian body. A promise that was not kept.
Chad has been in political crisis since longtime President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield in April 2021 while visiting troops on the frontline. Back then, Mahamat Idriss Deby, his 38-year-old son, was then installed by the military as interim president.
Initially, the interim president promised not to take part in elections that would follow an 18-month transition to civilian rule. However, a nationwide forum staged by Deby approved on 1 October 2022 a new “maximum” 24-month timeframe for holding elections.
The new forum also named Deby “transitional president” and allowed him run in the upcoming elections. The leader was quickly sworn in on October 10.
The protests against the military rule turned violent in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena. Clashes broke out between the protesters and security forces in the city. Tear gas and even live bullets were reportedly used by security forces in an attempt to disperse the protesters.
Government spokesman Aziz Mahamat Saleh told AFP that 30 people were killed during the clashes in N’Djamena, including ten security personnel.
The decision to extend the transition period and allow Deby to run in the upcoming elections embarrasses the African Union, the United States and the European Union, especially France. President Emmanuel Macron personally supported Deby’s rise to power, while at the same time condemning similar new governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Sudan.
Iam hope they all come to Denmark verry soon.
Macron send the Foreign Legion to exterminate all opposition and reinforce this Deby. Because this gov. will give all resources to France for free.
“Protest” eh? That’s a nice way of saying “riot”.
SF needs editors