Death of Yaya Dillo in Chad: the opponent's supporters denounce an assassination

The opponent was killed on Wednesday February 28 during the army's assault on his party headquarters.

If the Ndjamenois go about their activities again, deep concern persists even within the circles of power and everyone wonders about the possible security and political consequences of the death of the opponent ten weeks before the presidential election.

The president of Chad's Transitional Council, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno (center), arriving to attend the celebrations of the 63rd Independence Day in Ndjamena on August 11, 2023. AFP - DENIS SASSOU GUEIPEUR

By: RFI Follow

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With our special correspondent in Ndjamena,

François Mazet

and

our correspondent, 

Carol Valade

Several bulldozers were at work on Friday to demolish the headquarters of the Socialist Party Without Borders where

its president Yaya Dillo

was killed

during the assault by the army

on Wednesday.

By evening, all that remained was a field of ruins.

The camps are now raging around the circumstances of Yaya Dillo's death.

The course of events and the authorities' justifications leave certain political and civil society actors perplexed, already worried in view of the electoral campaign.

Also read [Your questions] What do we know about the circumstances of the death of Chadian opponent Yaya Dillo?

A “

point-blank execution

The opponent's supporters, for their part, denounce an assassination, a “

point-blank execution

,” the secretary general of the Socialist Party Without Borders, Robert Gamb, told AFP this Friday.

The official version also does not satisfy Max Kemkoye, of the GCAP consultation group of political actors, a platform of radical opposition to the transition, politically close to that of Yaya Dillo.

Outside the coalition which supports Mahamat Idriss Déby in the presidential election, we are wondering about the use of military force against Yaya Dillo.

This is the case of national advisor Théophile Bongoro: “

Is it necessary, in the face of a seasoned army and security forces experienced in the task, for men to fall?

I think there was excessive use of public forces.

Wasn't there something prepared behind that?

This is the question I ask myself.

»

In an interview with RFI

, the government claims that it was Yaya Dillo's men who opened fire and forced the defense forces to respond.

He assures that if he had surrendered, the situation would not have degenerated.

For his part, Chadian Prime Minister Succès Masra sent his “

condolences

”, “

not only to his family but to the families of all the victims, on all sides.

In this affair, soldiers and civilians died.

I don't know how to distinguish between the blood of a Chadian soldier and a Chadian civilian.

Our country has experienced too much violence.

This is also why we have chosen to embark on a path of reconciliation

,” he declared at the microphone of our colleagues at VOA Africa.

The head of government, until recently an opponent, speaks of a “

zone of turbulence

”, “

one more zone, too many

”, “

but this should not distract us from the obligation to do everything to land gently 

”.

A political warning?

Théophile Bongoro is worried about the serenity of the upcoming electoral campaign.

His fear is shared by Houzibe Gombo Breye, of the Observatory of Associations for the Electoral Process in Chad (Oapet): “

This climate reassures no one.

This is truly a terrible step backwards.

We think that, with this transition, in principle, we would have taken the opportunity to ban this type of bad practice.

How will the sequel unfold?

We launch a vibrant appeal to the transitional authorities to be able to reassure all the actors who would like to throw themselves into the political game.

» Oapet speaks of a process that is both fragile and locked.

The government reassures that it will be completed on May 6.

For Ladiba Gondeu, professor-researcher in sociology at the University of Ndjamena, the death of the opponent sounds like a political warning: “

Yaya Dillo is a bit like the voice of the populations of northern Chad who oppose the system in place.

It is a warning to say “you must follow suit and rally those who have signed to support the candidacy of President Déby”.

» The candidacy of Mahamat Idriss Déby for the presidential election on May 6 will be made official this Saturday.

He is expected in the morning at the inauguration ceremony organized by the Coalition for a United Chad, formed around the MPS, the party founded by his father.

This coalition claims 210 member parties.

But the current reconfiguration also concerns the defense and security forces, continues the professor: “

We have noticed that the DSSIE is becoming less and less present.

We see new forces emerging.

There is a restructuring of the Chadian security system.

»

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