2 Die As Chadians Protest Against Military Junta, France

Two persons have reportedly died in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, Tuesday morning as Chadians protested against the Transitional Military Council (CMT) headed by late former president Idriss Deby’s son, Mahamat Idriss Deby.

HumAngle can report that there were clashes with police and the army during the protests. Sporadic demonstrations started in the capital and other parts of the country as early as 5 a.m. CAT, and the protests continued with police and the military trying in vain to quell the uprising.

Police unsuccessfully used teargas to disperse protesters in Gassi within the 7th subdivision of the national capital, while sacking the Total petrol station which was completely looted by irate youths chanting anti-French and anti-Deby family slogans.

The youths took to the streets following a call by the coalition of citizens who rejected the military transition and denounced the interference of France in the internal affairs of Chad.

Several opposition political parties and civil society organisations have also called for the demonstrations against the Transitional Military Council which they described as “an illegal and illegitimate organ linked to France which wants to impose a new military dictatorship on Chad.”

The Chadian Human Rights Convention also called on its militants to massively turn out this Tuesday and protest against the TMC and France.

Almost all roads in the capital have been blocked by youths who have used stones and burning tires to stop traffic. Similar demonstrations are ongoing in several parts of the Chadian national territory as of the time of filing this report.

One of the dead persons is a woman who was allegedly killed by the protesters.

According to Youssouf Tom, the state prosecutor of N’Djamena, “the demonstrators attacked a bus in Dembe quarter and while some of the passengers in the bus ran away, a woman passenger decided to remain sitting in the bus.”

“She was attacked and killed by the protesters,” Tom said.

A 21-year-old man was also killed in the southern part of Chad.

“There was one dead in Moundou this morning during the demonstrations. We do not yet know the circumstances under which he died,” said Ali Kolla Brahim, the state prosecutor of Moundou.

The demonstrations had been banned by the military junta led by Mahamat Idriss Deby and 14 other army generals who feared they were “susceptible to occasion a disturbance of public order.”

“We are fed up, fed up, fed up with the monarchic dynasty in Chad,” some of the protesters were heard shouting.

The Chadians are especially angry with the late president Idriss Deby and his family who have turned the country into a dynasty with the Deby children, brothers, sisters, cousins, in-laws, and other family members occupying key positions within the government and state apparatus.

The military junta is not only facing challenges from the populations throughout the national territory, there is infighting within the military itself between the Deby children who come from different mothers who constitute Deby’s harem.

“The most likely source of the collapse of the military council may not be the rebels fighting the regime and the demonstrators on the streets,” a political analyst in N’Djamena who refused to give his name opined.

“The Deby children will themselves through infighting plan the demise of the dynasty their father built and create space for some organised opposition to take over the reins of power in the not too distant future.” 

Deby’s children, brothers, sisters and other family members occupied the following positions in government and state corporations:

1. Zakaria Idriss Deby: Ambassador of Chad to the United Arab Emirates;
2. General Mahamat Idriss Deby, the current head of the military junta;
3. Seid Idriss Deby: Deputy Managing Director, Chad Refinery;
4. Hissein Idriss Deby: Director General Rahad Chad;
5. General Nassouri Idriss Deby: Chief of Staff of the President;
6. Colonel Kerim Idriss Deby: Military Coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
7. General Ahmat Youssouf Mahamat Itno: Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces;
8. Sougour Youssouf Mahamat Itno: Ambassador of Chad to South Africa;
9. General Oumar Deby Itno: Director-General of the Strategic Reserve;
10. General Ousman Bahar Mahamat Itno: Commander of Chad, Central African Republic and Sudan Mixed Forces;
11. General Hassan Sendel Mahamat Itno: Special Adviser at the Secret Service Command;
12. Hamid Hissein Mahamat Itno: General Coordinator of Water and Forests;
13. Idriss Ibrahim Mahamat Itno: Director General of the Budget at the Ministry of Finance;
14. Koubra Hissein Mahamat Itno: Director-General of the Chadian Water Company;
15. Haoua Hissein Mahamat Itno: Director at the Ministry of Telecommunications;
16. Nassour Bahar Mahamat Itno: First Counselor, Embassy of Chad in Canada;
17. Mariam Hissein Mahamat Itno: Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at Radio Chad;
18. Hamaday Haïga Deby: Administrative and Financial Director at the Chadian Water Corporation;
19. Colonel Ousman Kadidja Deby Itno: National Coordinator of the Support Forces in the Ministry of Finance;
20. Mahamat Haïga Deby: Administrative and Financial Director at the Chad Housing Corporation;
21. Colonel Daoud Sendel: Deputy Military Zone Commander in Amtima;
22. Colonel Seby Sendel Mahamat Itno: a Regiment Commander;
23. Colonel Sougour Kerim Deby: Deputy Director of General Intelligence;
24. Ali Timan Deby Itno: Managing Director of Banque Habitat;
25. Mahamat Timan Deby Itno: General Manager of the Cement Plant;
26. General Sidick Timan Deby Itno: Director of Military Engineering;
27. Abbas Cheno Déby Itno: Governor of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC;.
28. Souleymane Ermia Mahamat Itno: Treasurer General and Paymaster of Chad;
29. General Amir Youssouf Mht Itno: Commander of the Chadian-Sudanese mixed forces;
30. Hissein Cheno Deby Itno: Director of Wiretapping at National Security Agency.