One week before the first round of presidential elections in Chad, groups of young people tried to march in several districts of the capital for a ninth Saturday of mobilization against a new mandate from head of state Idriss Déby Itno. These marches, banned by the authorities, are spreading rapidly.
as reported from Ndjamena,Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
Whistles and slogans surprised the residents of Chagoua. The signs have a clear message: “No to a sixth term by the head of state Idriss Déby Itno”. The protesters are about thirty. They are mainly supporters of Transformers.
José, 28, condemns “injustice”. At his age, he has only known one president. “Thirty years is a mile,” he said, “it hurts too much.” Injustice is also what motivated Hallardim to defy the ban on demonstrations. “I graduated without a job. I’m so tired of this situation. It is unacceptable to see the state trust the illiterate and forget the educated, he says.
After ten minutes, the riot police dispersed the protesters. Other sporadic marches took place in the capital at the urging of opposition parties and civil society organizations.
Jean-Bernard Padaré, spokesman for the Patriotic Salvation Movement, the ruling party, sees it as a way to hide the lack of a political program. “It is not the demonstration that provides solutions to our citizens’ difficulties. Since they have nothing to offer the Chadians, he believes that a call for a boycott would weaken our position. They will be bitterly denied on April 11, he predicts.
According to the opposition, some activists were arrested, others were injured by tear gas. A balance sheet that the authorities have not yet confirmed.
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