N’DJAMENA: The election in Chad of the members of the presidium, the body in charge of directing the work of the “inclusive and sovereign national dialogue” (DNIS) between the civil and armed opposition and the junta, took place in a stormy atmosphere, noted an AFP journalist on Sunday.
The junta leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, kicked off this dialogue on August 20 in N’Djamena, boycotted by certain armed groups and members of civil society. It must lead to “free and democratic” elections and the transfer of power to civilians.
More than 500 people, out of the 1,400 dialogue delegates, applied to join the presidium, made up of 21 members. They were appointed by the members of the organizing committee of the inclusive national dialogue (CODNI).
Gali Ngothé Gatta, presidential candidate in 2016 once morest former head of state Idriss Déby Itno, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, was elected head of the presidium.
“He’s the man for the job, he’s a politician of great experience who has already been a minister,” Saleh Kebzabo, former presidential candidate and opponent of Idriss Déby Itno, first vice-president, told AFP. -president of CODNI.
But when the composition of this body was announced, many delegates stood up and shouted in protest.
“We were criticized for not including enough Arabists on the list,” Kebzabo said.
«Monologue»
“We dispute the setting up of this office. As things are going, we are not in favor and we are calling on Mahamat Idriss Déby to remedy this, otherwise we will not participate in this dialogue”, warned Gilbert Maoundonodji , member of civil society.
“Apart from the president, the other members of the presidium are rather on the same political side, the games are made in advance, which is why we have decided to leave the dialogue”, declared for his part Djerandi Laguerre Dionro, door -words of 11 professional federations which took part in the dialogue, including those of lawyers and doctors. “We let them continue their monologue,” he concluded.
In a press release, several small political parties had threatened on Saturday to withdraw from the dialogue, denouncing “manoeuvres aimed at undermining the success of this dialogue so long awaited by the Chadian people”.
The work of the commissions, whose themes include social issues, peace, national reconciliation or even fundamental freedoms, should begin on August 30. The initial schedule foresees a closing ceremony on 20 September.
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno came to power in April 2021 following his father Idriss Déby, who died at the front once morest rebels.
The new strongman of the country, at the head of a Transitional Military Council (TMC), has promised elections at the end of an 18-month transition period, supposed to end in October, assuring that he will not would not show up.
But in June 2021 he took the first knife to his promises, considering an 18-month extension of the transition and handing over his “destiny” to “God” on a possible presidential candidacy.
