Since coming to power in April 2021, Mahamat Idriss Déby, President of Chad, has marked his first year at the helm of the country with a focus on peace, stability and the implementation of political agreements. In a televised speech on October 9, 2023, he gave a positive assessment of his action during this period of political transition.
One of Mahamat Idriss Déby’s major achievements is maintaining peace and stability in Chad, despite the challenges the country faces. In a context of political tensions and violently repressed opposition demonstrations, the president succeeded in preserving stability and avoiding a slide into violence and chaos. Its policy of firmness, combined with an approach of dialogue, enabled the signing of the Doha peace agreement with some of the Chadian politico-military groups in August 2022.
In addition to guaranteeing stability, the government of Mahamat Idriss Déby has also made significant progress in implementing the recommendations of the National Dialogue. He therefore called on the population to participate in a calm and thoughtful manner in the constitutional referendum scheduled for December 2023. The president pledged to personally supervise the entire electoral process until 2024 in order to ensure its transparency and credibility. He also reached out to all opponents still in exile, thus demonstrating his desire to promote the return of unity and national reconciliation.
However, the path traveled has not been without obstacles. The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) component of the peace process has stalled due to lack of funding from international partners. Mahamat Idriss Déby expressed his frustration with this situation which prevents the full achievement of the objectives of disarmament and reintegration of former combatants.
Finally, the Chadian president also faced criticism, particularly from his political opponents. Success Masra, president of the Transformers party, accused the government of doing everything possible to hinder his return planned for October 2023, by brandishing an international arrest warrant issued several months ago. This situation shows that despite the progress made, political tensions still persist in the country.
In conclusion, Mahamat Idriss Déby’s first year at the head of Chad was marked by significant progress in the preservation of peace and the implementation of political agreements. However, challenges remain, particularly in achieving DDR and managing internal political tensions. The Chadian president is determined to continue his efforts to guarantee stability, national reconciliation and the success of the political transition in 2024.