Chad government’s spokesman on Tuesday said the work of the inclusive national dialogue (DNI) between the ruling junta and the civilian and armed militant groups will start on Wednesday, a day later than the initial schedule, for organisational reasons, reported The Africa News.
“The dialogue has been postponed for organisational reasons, notably because of the late arrival of certain delegations, but not for political reasons,” said Abderaman Koulamallah, the Chad government spokesman and communications minister.
“Everything is fine for the moment, the timing is good,” Koulamallah added.
The national dialogue will see some 1,400 delegates from civil society, opposition parties, trade unions and rebel groups along with the ruling junta to discuss institutional reform and a new constitution, which will then be put to a referendum. The meet will continue for the next 21 days.
The government spokesman said the duration of the meeting is not an imperative issue. He added that the meeting may continue for more days if required.
Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno came to power in April 2021 after his father Idriss Déby died at the front against rebels. The country’s new strongman, who heads a Transitional Military Council (TMC), has promised to hold elections after an 18-month transition period, which is due to end in October, and not to stand in future elections.
The national dialogue, which was initially scheduled to be held in February before being postponed several times, begins less than two weeks after the signing in Doha of an agreement between the Chad’s ruling junta and some 40 rebel groups. The main rebel Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), however, refused to take part in the talks, saying negotiators did not listen to its demands.
The dialogue aims to agree the rules for the presidential election. Deby has hailed it as a chance for reconciliation in the country, opening the way to “free and democratic” elections.
