Opposition parties in Chad can now resume activities

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Jan 2023 15:14

After three months of suspension, government officials announced that opposition parties can now freely resume their political activities, but under certain conditions.

Three months ago, Chad's junta carried out violent crackdowns on protestors suspected to be supported by foreign power. (AFP)

Government sources said on Saturday that Chad has lifted the suspension on opposition parties it imposed three months ago for the purposes of clearing out parties affiliated with foreign rivals, AFP reported on Saturday.

Three months ago, the ruling junta in the north-central African country carried out a crackdown on protesters who condemned the military's rule.

Government sources said that political parties can now resume their operations on the condition they abide by regulations.

"The period of suspension having come to an end, the seven political parties aforementioned are invited to resume their activities, while now strictly complying with the legislation in force," Minister of Territorial Administration Limane Mahamat said.

In late October of last year, multiple opposition groups had gathered to encourage protestors to cause disruption in a country that has already suffered years of political turmoil.

About 50 anti-junta protestors reportedly died during the protests. Ten of the killed were members of the security forces, with whom the protestors that were present in big numbers clashed.

The military junta was due to cede power in October but because of the presence of proxy parties in the country, it delayed the elections by two years.

Two particular opposition groups, namely Les Transformers and Wakit Tamma, were identified as "insurrection supported by foreign powers".

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.