Chadian leader invites armed groups to participate in national dialogue

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Shifting from a previous insistence that the government would not negotiate with rebels, Chad’s transitional president on Wednesday invited opposition armed groups to participate in a national dialogue to determine the country’s future.

In a televised speech marking the 61st anniversary of Chad’s independence, Mahamat Idriss Deby​​​​​​​ said rebel groups were invited to take part in an “inclusive national dialogue” before the holding of presidential and legislative elections.

“The frank and sincere dialogue we all hope for will be open, in a specific manner, to the political-military movements,” said Deby, who took office as transitional leader in April.

“This meeting is eminently important for the future of our country. All the daughters and sons of the country, without distinction of any kind, must meet, in a fraternal spirit, to calmly discuss all issues of national interest.”

He underlined that pettiness, political calculations, and rearguard battles that “have already caused too much harm to our country must be banished forever.”

Deby previously refused to negotiate with rebel groups, notably the fighters from the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), which in April reached within 300 kilometers of the capital N'Djamena from their bases in Libya.

Deby, who leads the Transitional Military Council (CMT), took office in April following the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who served as the country’s president for 30 years.

Saying that armed groups have “a patriotic obligation to reconsider their positions,” Deby called on the groups to help the transitional council build national unity.

The military has promised to hold democratic elections at the end of an 18-month transitional period.

But political opposition figures and a section of civil society have been highly critical of the council.

Recently, hundreds of people took to the streets of N'Djamena to protest the ruling military junta.

Demonstrations were organized by the Transformers, an opposition party, along with several civil society groups to protest what they described as a coup by the Transitional Military Council that has ruled since Deby's death.​​​​​​​