First change: 20.10.2022 – 20:47 Last change: 20.10.2022 – 20:53
This Thursday, October 20, deadly clashes erupted between police and thousands of demonstrators protesting the military junta’s power expansion, the date that promised to abandon the transition to civilian rule. At least 50 people were killed as a result of the clashes, including members of the security forces. The UN calls for an investigation.
The anger of thousands of protesters and a reported police crackdown swept the streets of N’Djamena, Chad’s capital, and other cities across the country.
Outraged by the military junta’s continued power and the delays in the democratic transition, citizens defied a ban by those in power and took part in massive demonstrations that soon culminated in clashes with the security forces.
According to government spokesman Aziz Mahamat Saleh, the clashes left at least 50 dead and dozens injured, including members of the security forces.
Among the dead is a local journalist who was shot. Chad’s Red Cross reported that it had dispatched 10 teams to provide first aid and taken “dozens” of the injured to hospital.
The expansion of the military junta in power, the trigger for the outbreak
The mobilization came on the very day the military initially pledged to cede control of the country to a civilian government, which has not happened after the recent second appointment of military junta leader Mahamat Idriss as president of Déby. , which would allow him to continue in office for at least two more years.
“A banned demonstration turned into an uprising,” said military junta spokesman Aziz Mahamat Saleh.
Schools and universities were closed during the riot and opposition groups such as the Transformers Party denounced the police repression, while columns of black smoke were seen in some streets and tear gas cannon explosions were heard.
“They shoot at us. They’re killing our people,” Transformers Party leader Succes Masra posted on his Twitter account, which posted images of ambulances being shot.
The authorities, for their part, accused the demonstrators of setting fire to the party headquarters of newly appointed Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo.
“Our headquarters was looted this morning and then set on fire… The guard was nearly lynched by violent protesters,” Celestin Topona, vice leader of the National Union for Democracy and Renewal party, told Portal.
Mahamat Saleh also accused pro-democracy activists of “attacking public buildings,” including the governor’s offices, the prime minister’s party headquarters and those of the speaker of parliament.
The United Nations and the African Union condemn the police repression and call for an investigation
The United Nations (UN) organization condemned the use of force against the demonstrators and called for an investigation to be launched.
“We deplore the deadly use of force against protesters in Chad,” the UN Human Rights Office said, calling on the interim authorities “to ensure the security and protection of human rights, including freedom of expression.” Expression and peaceful assembly (…) Den reported violations must be followed up. We call for calm and all parties to show restraint,” he said.
Likewise, the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, who previously served as Chad’s prime minister, condemned the military junta’s “suppression of demonstrations”.
The French government also criticized the excessive use of force and denied rumors of involvement in the repression.
The crisis follows the power vacuum left by President Idriss Déby, who was assassinated in 2021 in fighting with the rebel group Front for Change and Concord.
Chadian junta leader Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno addresses the plenum during the closing ceremony of the Forum National Sovereign and Inclusive Dialogue (DNIS) in N’Djamena, capital of Chad, Oct. 8, 2022. © Denis Sassou Gueipeur/AFP
His 38-year-old son took power in April 2021 and originally promised to institute civilian rule within 18 months. Earlier this month, he went back on his promise, postponed elections to October 2024, and became the country’s “interim president.”
Chad has had a long history of coups and political unrest since gaining independence from France in 1960.
During his long tenure in power, the late Déby fended off several attempts to overthrow him by rebels from Libya and Sudan. He was then supported by the French government, which saw him as a strong ally in their campaign against jihadism in the Sahel. Paris also supported his son as his successor.
With AFP and Portal