50 dead in clashes in Chad over Junta's grip on power

20 Oct 2022 22:14
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Blazes of fires and smoke could be seen in the city's skies with the sound of tear gas cracking in some areas of escalation.

Posted by @Allahondoum (Twitter)

Violent protests in Chad in the capital city of N'Djamena on Thursday claimed the lives of 50 people, according to an official toll.

At least ten of the killed were members of the security forces with whom the protesters that were present in big numbers clashed due to the military's grip on power - despite its promise to hand over power.

On October 8, the National Sovereign Inclusive Dialogue (DNIS) forum announced that junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno will remain in office throughout the two-year-long interim phase and ratified Deby's right to run for the presidency by the time the transition period expires.

According to AFP, protesters decided to engage in peaceful protests before security forces began to shoot with live ammunition.

WATCH: #BNNChad Reports.

Chad Security forces on Thursday used force and fired tear gas at crowds to disperse a banned protest calling for a quicker transition to democratic rule, causing the death of a journalist according to reports #Protest pic.twitter.com/hLbqj5YjIn
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) October 20, 2022

Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo told a news conference on Thursday that 50 people were killed and dozens more were injured and that the protesters were not peaceful and carried weapons.

"What happened today is an armed popular uprising to seize power by force and those responsible for this violence will face justice," said Kebzabo, as cited by Reuters.

"The demonstrators had firearms and they are considered rebels."

According to UNDR Vice President Celestin Topona, Kebzabo's office had been "partially burned down" by angered protesters.

Kebzabo said that protesters attacked "public buildings" and government offices, as well as the headquarters of the prime minister's party and that of the speaker of parliament.

Sources said they saw bodies of protesters lying on the floor with the national flag of Chad covering their bodies at the city's Union Chagoua Hospital.

The head doctor, Joseph Ampil, later confirmed that they had "died from gunshots."

Blazes of fires and smoke could be seen in the city's skies with the sound of tear gas cracking in some areas of escalation, and several barricades were mounted in various districts as tires were set on fire to block traffic.

WATCH: #BNNChad Reports.

Chad Security forces on Thursday used force and fired tear gas at crowds to disperse a banned protest calling for a quicker transition to democratic rule, causing the death of a journalist according to reports #Protest pic.twitter.com/hLbqj5YjIn
— Gurbaksh Singh Chahal (@gchahal) October 20, 2022

In other parts of the city, streets leading to strongholds of the opposition were covered with tree branches and bricks.

According to AFP, France condemned "the use of lethal weapons against demonstrators."

"France is not playing any part in these events, which lie strictly in Chad's domestic political domain," the Foreign Ministry claimed.

"False information about France's purported involvement is baseless."

Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission, posted a tweet to "strongly condemn the repression of demonstrations that have led to the death of men in Chad. I call on the parties to respect human lives and property and to favor peaceful ways to overcome the crisis."

Je condamne fermement la repression des manifestations ayant entrainé mort d'hommes au #Tchad. J'appelle les parties au respect des vies humaines et des biens et à privilegier les voies pacifiques pour surmonter la crise.
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) October 20, 2022

The clashes occurred due to the national forum's recent decision to extend Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno's stay in power for two more years.

One protester, Abass Mahamat, 35, said he had chosen to voice his anger at "this facade of a dialogue which entrenches the system."

"In 31 years, we haven't seen any positive change in our country."

The UN posted a tweet today to condemn the lethal use of force against protesters in Chad.

We deplore lethal use of force against protesters in #Chad. Transitional authorities must ensure safety and protection of #HumanRights, including freedom of expression & peaceful assembly. Reported violations must be investigated.

We call for calm & all sides to show restraint.
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) October 20, 2022

At the age of 38, General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was proclaimed president of the Republic by the army following the assassination of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, who had ruled the country for three decades.

The young leader promised "a new phase of the transition" devoted to "achieving the prescribed deadlines for the return to constitutional order."

While he had promised to hand back power to civilians after 18 months, Deby also pledged to Chadians and the international community that he would not run in the upcoming presidential elections.

As soon as he came to power, Déby Itno and 14 other generals from the Military Transitional Council (MTC) abrogated the constitution, dissolved parliament, and dismissed the government.

Although the international community called on Deby to not extend the transition period and to not run for the presidency in the next elections, on June 2021, Déby Itno announced he would extend the transition for another 18 months until Chadians manage to reach an agreement on the way forward.

Earlier this month, the DNIS approved "by consensus" a series of resolutions which included the renewal of "the transition for a maximum of 24 months" and "to keep the CMT president in office (Mahamat Déby), who becomes the president of the transition."

Since its independence from France in 1960, Chad, one of the world's poorest countries, has experienced periodic revolutions and instability.

By the end of a ceremony that lasted more than two hours, Déby Itno expressed his "pride" at the forum meetings which he said have made it possible to "get out of the horror scenario."

Déby also mentioned his "commitment before God and before the Chadians to release prisoners of war." This is in particular a requirement of the FACT movement, which is not a signatory to the Doha peace agreement.