Chad suspends seven political parties for three months

Chad Thursday suspended for three months seven political parties accused of disturbance of public order and security that may undermine the security of the State and the proper functioning of republican institutions, following bloody clash between security forces and demonstrators protesting the extension of the transition.

The suspension targets Les Transformateurs, Front Populaire pour la Fédération (FPF), Parti Socialiste sans Frontière (PSF), Les Patriotes (LP), l’Al Takhadoum, Rassemblement pour la Justice et l’Égalité des Tchadiens (RAJET) and Parti des Démocrates pour le Renouveau (PDR), the Ministry of Territorial Administration said in a decree.

According to the decree, the headquarters of the suspended parties will be closed during the entire period of the ban.

The decree indicated that the movement called “Wakit Tamma” which gathers opposition political parties and associations, is also outlawed across the entire country.

The banned parties had called for a nationwide protest against the extension for 24 additional months of the transition led by the son of late president Idriss Deby.

The protest banned by authorities, was held in several cities including capital Ndjamena. Over 50 people were killed while more than 300 were wounded according to former opposition leader and Prime Minister of the transition Saleh Kebzabo.

Authorities also imposed a curfew from 6pm to 6am in Ndjamena, Doba and Koumra in a bid to restore order. “The demonstrators attacked public buildings, the governorate, the headquarters of the Prime Minister’s party, that of the President of the National Assembly,” Aziz Mahamat Saleh, spokesman for the government told media.

Mahamat Déby came to power in April last year upon the death of his father and pledged an 18-month transition. A national inclusive dialogue-backed by Qatar extends the transition and kept Deby’s son as the country leader.