Several marches took place this Saturday, March 20, in various neighborhoods in N’djamena. Political parties and civil society associations had called for demonstrations against President Marshal Idriss Déby Itno’s sixth term. The demonstrations were banned by the authorities, who implemented an impressive security system in several neighborhoods in the Chadian capital. About forty people were arrested.
Groups of young people, armed with whistles and posters, tried to march on Saturday morning, but especially the anti-emutation units took a stand where these marches were likely to start. Order and a demonstration, which was banned by the authorities because “likely to cause disruption of public order”, according to them.
These rallies of opposition and civil society activists were dispersed by the police. Tear gas was fired in several neighborhoods and about 40 people were arrested.
Six wounded, two of them in serious condition
Among the civilians arrested were the president of the Chadian League for Human Rights, Max Loalngar, but also Mahamat Nour Ibedou, general secretary of the Chadian Convention for the Defense of Human Rights (CTDDH), or again the artist N 2 A.
On the political side, the vice-president of the opposition party Les Transformateurs, dr. Sitack Yombatinan, also arrested, as was Daga Moudwe, a member of the UNDR Executive Board. Its president, Saleh Kebzabo, was briefly arrested and then released. A source within the party claims he has been taken to safety.
Reached by RFI, Succès Masra, president of Transformers, who attended the march on Saturday morning, said six protesters were injured, two of whom are said to be in serious condition. He calls for the release of all those arrested.
At the end of the morning, relative calm returned to the city, where the police were still deployed.
Read also: Chad: Kebzabo urges opposition candidates to withdraw from presidential election
.
