Rebels Halt Peace Talks With Chad's Interim Authority

Rebel groups accused the interim government representatives of creating a “bad atmosphere” at talks and announcing the August 20 national dialogue without any consultation.

[File] The Chadian authorities have announced the date of the national dialogue, which Mahamat Idriss Deby has presented as the first step towards planning a vote.
(Reuters Archive)

Chad rebels said they would suspend their participation in talks with the
government, a move that raises doubt about their involvement in
a national dialogue in August that is meant to be a precursor to
long-awaited elections. The peace-building talks in Qatar with Chad’s transitional
military authorities were meant to ease tensions after interim
president Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power following his
father’s death last year. In a joint statement on Saturday, the rebel groups accused the representatives
of the interim government of creating a “bad atmosphere” at
talks and announcing the August 20 national dialogue without any
consultation. “We note with regret that the negotiations are not making
any headway,” it said. The Chadian authorities on Thursday announced the date of
the national dialogue, which Deby has presented as the first
step towards planning a vote.  It would, in theory, include the
armed groups but the conditions for their participation have not
yet been agreed on. READ MORE: Chad ‘s military government, opposition groups start peace talks in Qatar Military rule Deby declared himself head of a Transitional Military
Council in April 2021 after his father, Chad’s longtime ruler
Idriss Deby, was killed while visiting troops fighting the rebel
insurgency in the north. Initially his council had said it would oversee an 18-month
transition to democratic rule, but it has shown little sign of
organising elections as that deadline nears. Pressure has started to grow from opposition groups within
Chad and bilateral partners to advance the transition process. Chad is an ally of France and other Western countries in the
fight against militants in Africa’s Sahel region. READ MORE: Why anti-French protests are going on in Africa’s Chad Source: Reuters

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