Chad gets new transitional prime minister

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Chad’s opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo has been named the country’s new transitional prime minister, said a decree issued by the country’s military leader and interim president.

Kebzabo will replace Albert Pahimi Padacke who resigned on Tuesday to allow the formation of a new government.

Padacke had been appointed transitional prime minister last year after military leader Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power following the death of his father Idriss Deby Itno, who died in April last year on the frontline fighting against rebels.

The 75-year-old Kebzabo heads the main opposition National Union for Democracy and Renewal.

He contested in the presidential elections in 2011 and 2016.

In his acceptance speech broadcast by state television, Kebzabo indicated that “great work” awaits the government.

The priority will be to achieve free and democratic elections, he added.

Deby was inaugurated as the nation’s interim president on Monday, after being named by the National Sovereign Inclusive Dialogue forum.

At the inauguration, Deby promised to “name a new government of national unity.”

Previously, he had promised to hand over power to an elected government after 18 months, but that deadline was not met.

The military has extended the transition period to elections by two years, despite the fact that it was supposed to hand over power this month.