On Saturday, Chad extended the transitional period before holding elections by a maximum of two years, allowing the head of the ruling military council to remain at the head of state and thereafter give him the opportunity to run for president.
Hundreds of delegates in the “comprehensive national dialogue” adopted these measures by “consensus” and Mohamed Idriss Déby Itno became the “transitional president”.
This dialogue is taking place in the absence of mainstream opposition and civil society organizations boycotting it, as well as two of the three armed rebel groups.
“Discussions will take place on Monday, and we are waiting for the end of the comprehensive national dialogue to announce the government’s position, but not now, so as not to cause differences over trifles,” government spokesman Abd al-Rahman Kalamallah told AFP.
The “Comprehensive and Sovereign National Dialogue” began on August 20, 16 months after the army proclaimed 37-year-old General Mohamed Idriss Deby Itno as President following the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed on his way to the front to confront rebels on April 21 2021.
Mohamed Idris Debi became chairman of the Transitional Military Council, which includes 15 generals, repealed the constitution, dissolved parliament and dismissed the government. But soon after, he promised to return power to the civilian population through “free and democratic” elections after a “transitional” period of 18 months, renewable once. It was supposed to expire on October 20th.
He also promised the Chadians and the international community not to participate in the upcoming presidential elections.
Days after he made these promises, his authority was cemented with great fanfare during his father’s funeral by representatives of the African Union and the European Union, including France, represented by its President Emmanuel Macron, as the two blocs denounced and punished military putschists in other places. Africa, in Mali and Burkina Faso, Guinea and Sudan.
Chadian political scientist Evariste Ngarlem stated that “deciding on the possibility of nominating the head of the Transitional Military Council (Mohamed Deby) and extending the transitional period by 24 months will have repercussions at the national level, represented by resistance from political parties, civil society and the African Union.”
“They will not accept an extension,” Nagarlim stressed, “the European Union and the US will not accept an extension of the transition period until October 20, or the possibility of Deby’s candidacy.” He expected “these partners to impose sanctions on Chad and flood the Transitional Military Council.”
In a statement released on September 19, the African Union asked the ruling military council to respect “a period of 18 months to complete the transition.” He also stated, “It is unequivocal that no member of the Transitional Military Council may be a candidate for election at the end of the transitional period.”
The army of Chad is the main pillar in the region, along with the French army, in the war against the jihadists in the Sahel.
However, the international community asked Mohamed Deby not to extend the transition period for more than 18 months to return power to civilians, and not to run for president after that.
However, in June 2021, the head of the Military Council for the first time reneged on his promises, stating the possibility of extending the transition period for another 18 months “if the Chadians fail to reach an agreement.”
He said then about the possibility of his candidacy for the presidency that he “surrendered to God.”
