Chad’s Transitional Military Council (TMC) on Sunday named a new government consisting of 40 ministers, reported Reuters.
The development follows the sudden death of President Idriss Deby last month. The 68-year-old died from wounds he sustained during clashes between military forces and the rebels in the country north. The news of Deby’s death aged 68 came only a day after he was announced the winner of the presidential election, handing him a sixth term in office after three decades of iron-fisted rule in the former French colony.
The transitional military council came into power after Deby’s death, vowing to rule the country for the next 18 months until new elections are held.
In a televised statement, the military junta spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said Deby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat, the head of the military council, has named a government comprising 40 ministers and deputy ministers. The majority of ministers named in the new government held positions under late President Deby. Albert Pahimi Padacke was named Chad’s prime minister last week.
He said that the military council’s head also formed a new national reconciliation ministry that will be led by Acheick Ibn Oumar, a former rebel chief who became a diplomatic adviser to the presidency in 2019.
The opposition and rebels have rejected the military council’s takeover as a coup and said the military must relinquish power to a civilian-led government It has demanded a civilian president for the transitional government and a military vice president.
Last week, thousands of people took to the streets in protests against military rule. At least six died in clashes with police. A local non-governmental organization claims at least nine died in the violent protests and over 650 people were arrested during the protests.
On Sunday, the Chad’s military council announced the lifting of an overnight curfew introduced after Deby’s death.
