Chad’s Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke on Tuesday resigned to pave the way for a new government after the Central African country postponed elections by two years. His resignation was announced by the presidency, reported The Africa News.
Last year, Padacke was named prime minister of a transitional military government after President Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power following his father’s death. He had also previously served as prime minister from 2016 to 2018 and was seen as an ally of former President Idriss Deby, who ruled Chad for 30 years until his death in 2021. He also ran against him in the presidential elections of 11 April 2021.
The former president died of gunshot injuries after he was hit while fighting rebels in the north. The ex-military officer had just won a sixth term after the provisional election results were declared.
Chad’s transitional military council, led by Deby, was originally meant to rule for 18 months. . The transition period would have ended this month without any extension. But this month, the national forum announced that the democratic elections have been pushed back until around October 2024.
Among a raft of resolutions adopted under a revised transition charter, the forum also ratified Deby’s right to seek for the presidency after the transition. A large part of the opposition and the most powerful armed rebel groups boycotted the National Reconciliation Dialogue.
Deby was sworn in as Chad’s interim president on Monday and is expected to appoint a new premier soon.
In his inaugural speech on Monday, the 38-year-old Deby promised a government of national unity in the next few days. He ensured the elections will be held, transparently and peacefully, and pledged to do everything possible for a return to constitutional order and power to civilians at the end of the transition.
