Chad sets peace dialogue for August 20, groups in Doha denounce unilateral decision
Members of groups participating in the Chadian pre-peace dialogue in Doha, March 13, 2022. © AFPKARIM JAAFAR AFP/File
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3 mins
During a press conference held on Monday July 18 in Doha, the Chadian politico-military movements participating in the peace talks announced the suspension of their participation, denouncing the conditions for the conduct of these talks.
They denounce “
destabilizing maneuvers
” and also an agenda “
pre
-established ” by the Chadian authorities.
This comes as the government announced a new peace dialogue on August 20 to pave the way for elections.
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During the press conference, in the presence of several leaders of the politico-military movements, including the Rome group, the Doha group and the National Recovery Council (CNR), the movements wanted to speak out against the government's announcement : according to them, the latter announced, without any prior consultation, that a national peace dialogue would begin on August 20 to pave the way for elections.
The decision, taken by about half of the groups
participating in the talks,
came less than 24 hours after the announcement by the administration of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
Two new blocks were formed
The three politico-military groups recognized so far - Rome, Doha and Qatar - have imploded and reconstituted themselves into two new diametrically opposed blocs with still vague outlines, while Ndjamena, by setting the date for the inclusive dialogue on August 20, has announced that it will be done with those who want.
The first bloc would have within it about twenty politico-military movements.
Its hard core is the main Chadian rebel groups that belonged to Rome.
He suspended his participation in the negotiations, setting his conditions.
This
suspension of the pre-dialogue
intervenes to "
give a real chance to peace and to restart the discussions on a good basis
".
This after a series of malfunctions and various “
manipulations
”, as Dossé Bagao explained during the press conference:
As our work enters a crucial phase, we wish to denounce the following facts.
First, the unilateral choice of the date of the inclusive and sovereign national dialogue of August 20, 2022. Second, the destabilization maneuvers, namely conscience buying, intimidation, harassment, threats, disinformation aimed at disturb the serenity of the negotiations.
The interference of the government delegation in the mediation, absence of mediation since June 14, 2022, the total absence of plenaries between the parties, the creation of new movements of government obedience in Doha and the multiple problems related to our stay .
Dossé Bagao denounces "conscience buying, intimidation, harassment, threats, disinformation aimed at disrupting the serenity of the negotiations" in Doha
Houda Ibrahim
These Chadian politico-military groups say they have the impression of being presented with a fait accompli with this new date, according to Adoum Yacoub, leader of the Rome group:
We have never been able to debate seriously between the government and us, we have the feeling since we have been there that there is a pre-established program precisely to exclude from this dialogue a certain number of politico-military movements.
Adoum Yacoub, head of the Rome group in Doha, denounces a lack of dialogue from the authorities in Ouagadougou
Houda Ibrahim
The majority is not enough, "
we must find an agreement with those who represent the most danger
"
The second block, which would be ready to sign the peace agreement with Ndjamena, has 31 signatories who present themselves as “
the absolute majority
” of the participants.
But the problem, according to Chadian political scientist Remadji Hoinathy, is not the number that counts:
“
For the past five to six years, I have not seen any, among these 31
movements, which has this capacity precisely to show itself and to represent a real danger.
It is a bit simplistic to consider a mechanical majority in this situation.
When we talk about peace and reconciliation, it is absolutely necessary to reach an agreement with those who precisely represent the most danger to the Chadian nation.
»
Another problem, according to this political scientist, is the fact that the Chadian transitional power has set a date for the Chadian inclusive national dialogue before the conclusion of a peace agreement in Doha, contrary to what he has always said:
“
The inclusive national dialogue, for a long time, was based on the Doha agreement.
But without an agreement in Doha, the government decided to commit to an official date for dialogue.
This simply gives the impression that, from the outset, it is as if an agreement in Doha was not essential
”
The Chadian political scientist warns that a real reconciliation in Chad requires that we take into account "
movements capable of representing a danger for the country
".
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Mahamat Idriss Deby