Chad peace talks stall as rebel groups withdraw
Peace Talks between Chad’s military government and rebel groups have been stalled after about half of the groups withdrew on Saturday.
The withdrawal followed the announcement by President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s administration that the national peace dialogue, which would pave the way for elections, would start on the 20th of August. Withdrawing from the peace talks held in Doha, Qatar, the rebel groups made allegations of “harassment, intimidation, threats, and disinformation” against the government’s delegation.
What are the demands from both sides? The groups alleged an attempt to exclude some of the armed rebels from the dialogue, as they were not consulted before the government announced the date. As a condition for the national dialogue, the opposition groups are demanding that Deby be exempted from the post-dialogue elections, but the government wouldn’t agree to it, saying that would be a part of the subjects of the dialogue.
Deby was the Head of a military junta that seized power in April 2021, after the passing of the country’s former leader, Deby’s father, Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed while fighting off a rebel offensive on the capital. On assuming power, the junior Deby announced an 18-month timetable for nationwide elections, but both sides have since failed to agree to talks.
