The Quai d’Orsay on Thursday condemned the violence, which broke out as part of a demonstration against the continued power of interim President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.
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In the Chadian capital, the balance sheet goes to a “fifties” people killed in clashes between police and protesters Thursday, October 20, said Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo, who announced the “suspension of all activity” major opposition groups and a curfew. This will last until “total restoration of order” in N’Djamena, Moundou, Doba and Koumra, where the violence took place. A “ten” of victims are members of the security forces.
Of the hundreds of people gathered Thursday in N’Djamena, at the call of the opposition, against the continued power of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. Paris has “sentenced” in the aftermath of this violence, “with in particular the use of lethal weapons against the demonstrators”, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Quai d’Orsay specifies that France “plays no role in these events, which are strictly a matter of Chad’s internal politics. The false information about an alleged involvement of France has no basis”.
Clouds of black smoke are visible and tear gas can be heard regularly. Barricades have been erected in several parts of the city and tires are burned on the main roads to obstruct traffic, according to AFP journalists in N’Djamena.
These clashes take place after the extension for two years of the “transition” in Chad which was due to end on Thursday. But at the end of September, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was finally kept president until free and democratic elections, supposed to be held at the end of a second transition period, and in which the son of former president Idriss Déby will be able to to present.
The UN also deplored the violence on Thursday and called for the opening of an investigation into the deaths. “The transitional authorities must guarantee security and the protection of human rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Reported violations must be investigated”said in a tweet the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.