Mahamat Idriss Deby, Interim President of Chad, has decided to run in this year’s presidential race.
The news is coming at a time when one of the main opposition party leaders, Yaya Dillo was killed in an exchange of gunfire in the country’s capital. As a result, the European Union is deeply concerned about the political chaos going on in the country.
The questionable death of Dillo has unavoidably caused disputes in the political class in the country amidst the presidential election coming in two months. Moreover, Chad has promised to return to a democratic form of government.
The Chadian government has come out to accuse members of his party of being responsible for his death. Dillo passed away during a gunfire exchange between security forces and the internal security agency of the party.
The government on Friday arrested General Saleh Deby Itno, Deby’s uncle, as a result of the incident.
Prior to the incident, Itno had cross-carpeted to the deceased opposition party, Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF).
Government spokesperson, Abderaman Koulamallah came out to update the public on his arrest;
“He has now been charged by the public prosecutor and his life is in no danger,”
Abderaman said
Dillo’s death has been labeled as an assassination by the Chadian rebel group for Change and Concord in Chad and the CNRD opposition party.
According to the statement released by the URT opposition party on Saturday. It said the incident was a deliberate act to silence the political opposition as Dillo was against the transition;
a dangerous and deliberate move to muzzle the political opposition and he democratically opposed the dangerous trajectory of the military transition in Chad”.
URT party said in a statement
In Deby’s acceptance speech on his candidacy for the upcoming election, the presidential candidate made no mention on Dillo’s death or the prosecution of his uncle. However, he showed his gratitude and joy on his nomination.
It is … with a mixture of honour, humility, responsibility and gratitude that I accept this nomination,”
Deby said
The Diplomatic Service of the European Union came out with a statement on Saturday to share its deep concern as regards the violence in Chad. It wants those culpable and responsible for the act to be brought to book in ” a credible and independent way”. The EU also said the violence is a sabotage to the transparent and peaceful transition.
“These events undermine the efforts needed to ensure a transparent, pluralist, inclusive, and peaceful transition,”
EU said in a statement
After the killing of his father in a clash with the rebels, Deby who had promised a year-and-a-half transition to elections when he seized power 3 years ago turned back on his words.
However, he later agreed to participate in the presidential election, as he postponed the election to this year.
The delay regarding the election led to protests, but it died down with the alleged killing of 50 lives by the security forces.
