Chad trades union calls strike over opposition arrests

Chad’s leading union group On Tuesday called for an indefinite strike beginning on Wednesday in order to demand the immediate release of six opposition activists detained following violent anti-France protests.

The Union of Unions of Chad (UST), which represents public and private sector workers, announced in a statement that it had “decided to stage an indefinite strike… across the entire country with a minimum service for hospitals

called for an indefinite strike beginning on Wednesday in order to demand the immediate release of six opposition activists detained following violent anti-France protests.

The Union of Unions of Chad (UST), which represents public and private sector workers, announced in a statement that it had “decided to stage an indefinite strike… across the entire country with a minimum service for hospitals.”

The UST called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the six figures charged with public order offenses arising from the May 14 demonstration.

Among them were Max Lalngar, coordinator of the main opposition coalition Wakit Tamma, and UST general secretary Gounoung Vaima Gan-Fare.

The protest targeted France, which the activists accuse of supporting Chad’s military junta.

Police said 12 of their officers were injured during the unrest and seven petrol stations belonging to the French group Total vandalized.

The activists, who launched a hunger strike on Monday, are to go on trial on June 6.

The impoverished Sahel state last year lost veteran ruler Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed during an operation against rebels.

His place was taken by his son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, at the head of a 15-member military junta.

It promised “free and democratic elections” within 18 months, but efforts to initiate a “national reconciliation dialogue” have so far failed.

The military takeover in April 2021 was widely accepted by Western countries, led by ex-colonial power France, which sees N’Djamena as a close ally in the fight against jihadists in the Sahel.