Chad to further postpone democratic elections

• Chad extends the transition period to democratic elections while retaining a military junta leader as interim head of state.
• Forum for national reconciliation discourse boycotted by the majority of opposition members, rebel groups, and civil society groups.
• The international community asked Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno not to run for president in future elections.

Saturday, Chad extended the transition period to democratic elections while retaining the military junta leader as interim head of state.

The choices were reached by a forum for national reconciliation discourse, which was boycotted by the majority of opposition members, two of the three most significant armed rebel groups, and civil society organizations.

The forum “consensually” endorsed a measure to “extend the transition for a maximum of 24 months.”

The hundreds of delegates also determined that junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno would not only continue to serve as transitional president but would also be entitled to compete for the presidency when elections are held.

Government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah stated that there would be a debate on Monday prior to the announcement of an official decision.

His father, Idriss Deby Itno, who ruled the country for 30 years, was murdered in a military operation against rebels in April of last year.

He had promised to return control to civilians after 18 months, a timeframe that would expire this month.

He also promised Chadians and the international community that he would not run for president in the future election.

After seizing power, the 15-member junta known as the Transitional Military Council abolished the constitution, dissolved the legislature, and fired the government.

The international community asked Deby not to extend the transition period beyond 18 months and not to run for president in the subsequent elections.

In June of last year, however, the junta commander threw the first blow to these aspirations by predicting an additional 18 months of transition “if the Chadians are unable to reach an agreement” on the way forward.

He also stated at the time that he would leave his presidential candidacy up to God.

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