WAkit Tama, a collective of opposition parties and civil society associations, called for demonstrations against the Transitional Military Council (CMT), led by Mahamat Idriss Déby, son of the late president. In their eyes, the transition is “illegitimate”. Indeed, the new strongman of Chad, surrounded by 14 generals, all faithful to his father, concentrates almost all the powers, including those of President of the Republic and Supreme Chief of the Armies.
” Tear gas “
Early in the morning of this Saturday, May 8, the demonstrators began by going out in dispersed order in the various districts of the capital N’Djamena. They were immediately dispersed with tear gas.
In the 6e N’Djamena district, in the south of the capital, the police used tear gas to disperse an attempted rally in First Africa Square, AFP journalists noted. The police are heavily deployed in the streets of the capital.
A small group of demonstrators burned French flags in the 5e arrondissement, in the north of the capital. France has been accused by part of the opposition of supporting the new power since President Emmanuel Macron came to N’Djamena to meet the new authorities on the occasion of the funeral of Marshal Déby, the only Western head of state to have made the trip. “Yes to a civil power”, wrote on a sign of the demonstrators.
Arm wrestling
The ruling junta banned the planned demonstration also at the call of several opposition parties, because its organizers did not obtain “prior authorization”, according to a statement released Friday by the Minister of Public Security. “The so-called peaceful march of the coordination of citizen actions Wakit Tama, (…) not having had prior authorization (…), is strictly prohibited throughout the national territory”, according to a press release signed by Souleymane Abakar Adoum, the Minister of Public Security. But later in the evening, the authorities announced that they would tolerate the day’s protests, provided they were peaceful and supervised by the police and security forces.
The organizers of the event “do not give details of their itinerary. (…) We wanted to authorize, but they became radicalized. They want confrontation with us. If they want confrontation, they will have it, ”Abdramane Koulamallah, the Minister of Communication and government spokesman, told AFP.
“They have no right to block us or to tell us to go through here or there,” reacted for his part to AFP Max Loalngar, the coordinator of the Wakit Tama collective. “We will exercise our rights,” he continued.
The Minister of Public Security authorized in another decree a demonstration organized by the Civil Society Entente for an inclusive dialogue and a peaceful consensual transition.
Sad day of April 27
A scenario that is not unlike that of April 27. That day, the demonstration turned into a violent confrontation, with a crackdown by the security forces. Six people were killed in N’Djamena, the capital, and in southern Chad, according to the authorities, nine according to a local NGO, during these demonstrations, banned by the authorities, at the call of the opposition and of civil society. More than 600 people have been arrested.
The junta on Sunday set up by decree a transitional government made up of 40 ministers and secretaries of state. The royal posts are almost all in the hands of members of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), Idriss Déby’s party. Two members of the party of the historic opponent of Marshal Déby, Saleh Kebzabo, have entered the transitional government. His party has since withdrawn from the Wakit Tama collective. “Our party has withdrawn and is not calling for demonstrations on Saturday,” Saleh Kebzabo told AFP on Thursday.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
