Chadian rebel groups and opposition parties on Saturday withdrew from peace talks with the military government after the junta once again postponed the National Reconciliation Dialogue until August, thereby further delaying the country’s transition to democracy.
In a joint statement, the groups accused the interim government of creating a “bad atmosphere,” claiming that the junta didn’t consult them before announcing the new date for dialogue. “We note with regret that the negotiations are not making any headway,” it said.
They thus alleged that the government is attempting to “exclude” the armed groups and their political allies, accusing it of “harassment, intimidation, threats, and disinformation.”
Their comments came after the Chadian Transitional Military Council (CMT) announced last Thursday that it has set August 20 as the new date for peace talks, which it claims will be an “inclusive national dialogue.”
Chadian government said to hold a national dialogue starting August 20, a precursor to elections promised by interim president Mahamat Idriss Deby when he seized power following his father’s death last year.#Chad #MilitaryGovernment pic.twitter.com/Xn6PBZeIHj
— The African Exponent (@africanexponent) July 18, 2022
The move frustrated opposition coalition Wakit Tamma, as the dialogue process has frequently been postponed by the military ruler Gen. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.
In fact, dialogue has been since March, with the previous round of talks taking place in Doha between the junta and around 50 rebel groups. The opposition has refused to recognise the military government and suspended talks on April 6. Furthermore, the rebels and the government are yet to hold direct negotiations.
Moreover, Thursday’s notification did not spell out the conditions for the participation of the armed groups, which has raised speculations over their possible exclusion.
One of the main deadlocks between the government and opposition groups has been the latter’s demand that Gen. Mahamat should be barred from contesting elections before any talks can be held.
In this regard, Ellen Thorburn, the Chargé d’ffaires at the United States embassy in Chad, has said that “it is the responsibility of the CMT to fulfil its commitments to the citizens of Chad, including that members of the CMT will not stand for future elections,” calling for a “rapid transition” and noting that free and fair elections would be a “mark of the CMT’s success.”
"The authorities in Chad are holding several members of civil society organizations in pretrial detention following protests on May 14, 2022, to press for a peaceful transition to civilian rule", Human Rights Watch said on 30,2022.#Chad @hrw pic.twitter.com/XMBRJltDlG
— AJhumanrights (@AJHumanRightsEN) May 31, 2022
Tensions between the military and the rebels first erupted last April following the assassination of President Idriss Déby, who had been in power since 1980 and was the father of Gen. Mahamat. Subsequently, the military took control of the country and then proclaimed victory over the Front for Change and Concord (FACT) rebels just a few weeks later.
Opposition groups have said hereditary succession of power is unconstitutional and also taken aim at the junta for its harsh crackdown on protests.Human Rights Watch, for instance, has expressed concerns over authorities’ “zero-tolerance policy” for dissent, detailing examples of arbitrary arrest, torture, excessive force, and impunity.
Against this backdrop, international pressure has been building to nudge the Chadian authorities to speed up the timeline for holding democratic elections. The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in a statement last week called for “progress toward political pluralism and advance the rule of law” in Chad and urged “accountability for General Mahamat Déby and other members of the Chadian military, who must return to their barracks.”
#Chad🇹🇩 is facing various conflicts along most of its borders. This puts the country at the center of a complex humanitarian situation.#WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/EPxJZC4dI5
— UNHCR West & Central Africa (@UNHCRWestAfrica) July 17, 2022
However, analysts have pointed out that the military coup in Chad only received only a lukewarm condemnation from the international community compared to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, which were suspended from the African Union and handed sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Chad has for long been a key strategic ally for France, the European Union (EU), and the AU for its military contributions to counterterrorism operations, specifically to France’s Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region. In fact, following their withdrawal from Mali, France is now mulling stationing its soldiers in Chad.
Furthermore, the EU has welcomed the military’s new date for peace talks on August 20, hailing it as a “crucial step in the political transition.”