A major rebel group announced Monday its withdrawal from peace talks in Qatar with Chad’s ruling junta since the death of President Idriss Déby, who was killed ten months ago at the front against the rebels.
The Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR), which is very active in southern Libya and northern Chad, has “reluctantly” decided to “withdraw from the pre-dialogue”, citing in a statement “the hidden agenda (…) of the military junta”.
“We don’t have to comment on this decision,” said a member of the Chadian delegation, who spoke on the phone in Qatar on condition of anonymity. This “Doha pre-dialogue”, promised for many months and initially scheduled for February 27, had been postponed at the last minute to March 13.
One of the stated goals of the son of the late head of state, General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, 38, who was proclaimed president of the Republic on April 20, 2021 at the head of a junta of 15 generals, is to bring the armed groups to the table for an “inclusive national dialogue” scheduled for May 10 with the political and armed opposition.
These armed groups have harassed Marshal Déby, sometimes right up to the gates of the presidential palace, during the 30 years he has ruled with an iron hand.
