‘Two killed’ as protests rock Chad over military transition

Two persons have been reportedly killed after security forces clashed with protesters kicking against the military transition in the Republic of Chad.

Local media are reporting that many were also injured during the protests that started on Tuesday.

The police were said to have fired tear gas at the protesters who burnt tyres in several neighbourhoods.

French flags were also destroyed as residents also kicked against President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to back the military transition.

An unidentified man, said to be in his twenties, was shot dead by the police in Moundou city while another woman reportedly died in the hands of protesters.

WHAT CAUSED THE PROTESTS?

The death of President Idriss Déby threw the country into political instability, with the military taking over through a transitional military council.

A new charter named Mahamat Deby, the late president’s son, as the new leader, while Albert Padacke, who was runner-up in the recent presidential election, was appointed prime minister of the transitional government.

The country’s parliament was also dissolved while the constitution was suspended over the transition which the military council said would last for 18 months.

But opposition parties and civil society groups would not have any of that; they described the takeover as “the institutional coup d’etat”.

The situation is worsened by the country’s continued fight with the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel group, the very battle that claimed the president’s life.

In what appeared to be a change in his stance, Macron asked the military to ensure “a peaceful and politically inclusive transition.”