In the spotlight: Mahamat Idriss Déby speaks

Audio 04:22

Chadian President Idriss Déby in Nouakchott on June 30, 2020. AP - Ludovic Marin

By: Frédéric Couteau Follow

9 mins

Publicity

This is the first interview with the new Chadian head of state. Idriss Déby's son

speaks in

Jeune Afrique

. For him, the situation in Chad has nothing to do with that of Mali:

"what happened here was not premeditated and had nothing to do with a coup," he says. . The Marshal died in combat, a fight in which I too participated. The President of the National Assembly, who was in power, refused to assume this office and no one could force him to become president against his will. It was therefore our duty to take charge of the transition. "

So, continues Mahamat Idriss Déby,

“the CMT, the Transitional Military Council, is there to ensure the continuity of the State during this period.

In this context, we appointed a civilian Prime Minister from the opposition, Pahimi Padacké, who formed a broad-based government (…).

The mission entrusted to the Prime Minister and his government is clear: to organize a national dialogue and elections in 18 months.

It is up to them to come up with a precise chronogram.

It is in the process of being formed, will have 93 members and will play the role of Parliament.

"

To JA's question:

"do you exclude yourself from being a presidential candidate?"

"

, Mahamat Idriss Déby replies:

" the CMT that I chair is not intended to confiscate power.

"

Finally, with regard to the announced end of Operation Barkhane, the Chadian Head of State replied:

“We take note of this, pending operational details of this announcement.

France is a sovereign country.

As far as Chad is concerned, its commitments will be maintained, both within Minusma and within the framework of the G5 Sahel, of which it holds the current presidency.

As the Marshal repeated, I believe that Africans are quite capable of defending themselves against the jihadist scourge.

It is neither men, nor courage, nor combat intelligence that is lacking.

Only essential material and logistical assistance is required from our partners.

"

Has Kaboré lowered the pressure?

In Burkina Faso, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré spoke yesterday during a televised address. Faced with the anger of the populations in front of the terrorist threat, vis-a-vis the demonstrations which shake the country, the Burkinabé president,

“the serious face”,

relates

L'Observateur Paalga

, said to understand the indignation of his compatriots. And one can think that his intervention in six minutes flat will be quickly followed by concrete actions, estimates the newspaper.

"We must hope that he will not have preached in the desert and that his speech will produce the desired result: to lower the tension and contain the socio-political fire which is brewing and which could make us lose sight of the essential. "

For the daily newspaper

Today

,

“in accordance with his temperament of being neither Surcouf nor Magellan, but the normal captain of a Burkina Faso which is no longer totally up to standards (insecurity obliges), Roch wanted to be balanced, by inviting union, to keep hope in this fight for life.

Roch certainly assumes, but he now has to ensure by "the imperative of victory" at the very least circumscribing this terrorism.

He is 4 years old for this priority challenge.

"

The Gbagbo show

Finally, Laurent Gbagbo arrived yesterday in his native village of Mama near Gagnoa.

“It was around 6:20 pm that the former head of state made his entrance to Mama in popular jubilation,

reports Abidjan.net

. Caught up by a joyful population, Laurent Gbagbo was only able to get out of his vehicle after several minutes, the time for the security services to clear his way. Laurent Gbagbo spoke briefly to his parents from Mama. “I come with good news. I have been absent for ten years. That's a lot, ”he said, before inviting the entire population to a more cordial meeting on Monday. "

Comment from

WakatSéra

,

“This is the Gbagbo show.

(…) Laurent Gbagbo's popularity has not aged a bit.

She even seems to have been boosted by her time in the 5-star prison in Scheveningen.

Without being Nelson Mandela, the former Ivorian president nonetheless continues to stir up crowds.

Better, the "soldier" seems to find, with his family a new youth to put himself at the disposal of his party.

"

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Africa

  • Newspaper

  • Laurent Gbagbo

  • Burkina Faso

  • Mahamat Idriss Deby

  • Chad