Amnesty International urged, on Monday 11 October, the ruling junta in Chad to “Stop the campaign of intimidation against dissenting voices” and to “Protect freedom of expression”, two days after demonstrations dispersed by the police with tear gas. Saturday’s rallies, at the call of Wakit Tama, a platform of opposition parties and members of civil society calling for civilian power, had been banned by the authorities because of the risk of “Public disorder”.
But several hundred people took to the streets of the capital, N’Djamena. “The security forces fired tear gas, injured several people and arrested dozens of demonstrators who were released the same day”, said in a statement Abdoulaye Diarra, Central Africa researcher at Amnesty International.
According to the NGO, Internet access was slowed down during the demonstration. “These apparent restrictions must be investigated and Chadians must be able to freely access and exchange information online”, continued Mr. Diarra.
According to the Chadian Convention on Human Rights (CTDDH), three Wakit Tama activists were taken into police custody on Monday, in particular for acts of “Disturbance of public order and destruction of public property”. CTDDH “Condemns with the utmost energy this arbitrary arrest” and “Demands their immediate and unconditional release”.
Draft Constitution
On April 20, by announcing the death of Marshal Idriss Déby Itno, who had just been declared re-elected head of state after thirty years in unchallenged power, his son, General Mahamat Déby, had been proclaimed by the army as head of the State, at the head of a Transitional Military Council (CMT) made up of fourteen other generals loyal to his father.
The CMT immediately dismissed the government, dissolved the National Assembly and repealed the Constitution.
Since the takeover of the CMT, “At least sixteen people were killed during demonstrations in N’Djamena and Moundou”, in southern Chad, continued Mr. Diarra who stressed that “The results of the investigations are still pending”.
The junta promised elections “Free and transparent” within eighteen months, renewable once, and finally appointed, on September 24, an interim Parliament, the National Transitional Council (CNT).
General Déby has not recently ruled out extending the transition by eighteen months if ” certain conditions “ were not met, in particular that the “Dialogue” supposed to lead to a draft Constitution advance “At the planned rate and on the payment of international financial assistance”.
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