AU Calls On Chad’s Military, Civilian Leaders For A Democratic Transition In 18 Months

The African Union (AU) on Thursday called out Chad’s military and civilian leaders for a democratic transition in the next 18 months following the death of President Idriss Deby and subsequent military takeover last month, reported Reuters.

The ruling military government headed by late president Deby’s son army general Mahamat Idriss has appointed a transitional civilian leadership and vowed on April 20 to hold free and transparent elections within the next 18 months. The new transitional government comprises 40 ministers and secretaries of state and a new national reconciliation ministry.

In a statement, the AU underscored “the absolute need for a transition towards a democratic regime to be achieved within 18 months”.

The AU said it rejected any form of extension of the transition period.

The military junta has declared victory after a month-long operation against rebels in the northwest of the Sahel country. President Deby, who led the country for three decades, was killed after being injured in fighting with the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), a large armed group with a rear base in Libya.

The announcement of Deby’s death came just a day after he was announced as the winner of the presidential election, handing him a sixth term in office after 30 years of iron-fisted rule. After Deby’s death, his allies moved quickly to consolidate power, ignoring the constitution and creating a military council led by his son, 37-year-old army general Mahamat.

The installment violated Chad’s constitutional process for a president’s death, which states that the National Assembly should take interim charge of the country for 90 days before overseeing elections.

Political experts and opposition leaders fear that the new authorities could seek to use state institutions such as the electoral commission and Supreme Court to hold on to power in Chad.