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Delayed talks on Chad’s future that the ruling military says are a “decisive moment” opened despite some some opposition groups boycotting the gathering.
More than 1,400 delegates from the military, civil society, opposition parties, trade unions and rebel groups gathered on Saturday in the capital, N’Djamena, for the “national dialogue” that is expected to last three weeks.
The talks are the initiative of army general Mahamat Idriss Deby.
Deby described the forum as a “decisive moment in history of our country” after arriving in military dress surrounded by tight security to open the forum.
Earlier, he inaugurated a statue symbolising national unity at the January 15 palace in the capital before reviewing an honour guard.
Deby took power in April 2021 at the age of just 37 after his father, who ruled for 30 years, was killed during a military operation against rebels.
Deby has said the forum should open the way to “free and democratic” elections after 18 months of rule by his military – a deadline that France, the African Union (AU) and others have urged him to uphold.
But the “dialogue”, which should have begun in February, has been marred by delays as Chad’s myriad rebel groups, meeting in Qatar, squabbled over whether to attend.
In the end, about 40 groups on August 8 signed a deal entailing a ceasefire and guarantees of safe passage on return to Chad.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
