Mahamat Idriss Déby, the president of the Transitional Military Council, is young but already a general of the armies and for less than a week at the head of the Chadian leadership, following the death of President Idriss Déby Itno. The challenges for this young head of state are enormous. Begin by ensuring the security of the country, in the context of challenging its legitimacy and pending the creation of a new civilian power within an estimated period of 18 months.
There will obviously be no mercy for Mahamat Idriss Deby. The young 37-year-old army general, head of the junta who has just taken over as head of the Chadian leadership, is already on fire. Will he be able to maintain his commitment to a peaceful transition after 18 months?
Part of the opposition and civil society are in doubt and do not intend to release the press about what it considers a crime, a coup that has put all the country’s institutions on standby. Thus, the lawyer Max Loalngar, at the head of a coalition of opposition parties and civil society announces Tuesday’s demonstrations on the streets of the capital Ndjamena.
This military transitional council, which consists of only a squadron of generals, can in no way contribute to a transition worthy of the name, much less to a real peace in this country that has come a long way.
Laokein Médard, opponent, former minister and former mayor of Moundou
Can the President of the CMT, the Transitional Military Council, at least unite all the components of the army under his authority? Doubts remain here. Opponent Poddi Djime Bichara thinks the sling slides in the barracks. And what is being questioned here is the very composition of this CMT, of which, he says, two-thirds of the members come from the same region, that of the ruling Déby clan.
► Read also: Chad: barely composed, the Transitional Military Council is already controversial
Will he also have sufficient authority to engage the army on various fronts within and outside the country as his father did? asks NGO International Crisis Group in a new information note. Nothing is less certain.
At least he will already be able to rejoice in the benevolence and a certain form of dubbing that heads of state and government show against him during his father’s funeral, an observer of the scene emphasizes.
We believe that in this complex and difficult situation, in a war situation, only the military can create peace in the country. Those who are there and who created CMT can stay for the time being.
Saleh Makki, Chairman of the Unity and Reconstruction Party
► Also read: Chad: Mahamat Idriss Déby, a pure product of the army at the head of the Military Council
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