Cascading resignations in Chad: when intimacy becomes public
Chad is shaken by a series of resignations within the government, following the broadcast of intimate videos involving two ministers. General Daoud Yaya Brahim, Minister of the Armed Forces, and Haliki Choua Mahamat, Minister Secretary General of the Government, both resigned after the videos were published on social networks.
These videos were posted on the page of a mysterious individual calling himself “General Labo Mobil”. This page displays a phone number with the United States country code. The ministers reacted quickly by announcing their resignation, wishing to avoid these rumors disrupting the ongoing transition. They also plan to file a complaint for defamation against the authors of these videos.
Transitional Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo accepted the resignations and expressed gratitude to both ministers for their service to the nation. He thus seeks to put an end to the controversy which had been gaining momentum for several days.
The administrator of the page who posted the videos remains anonymous, presenting himself simply as a civil society activist in exile. He claims to have acted to expose those who abuse their position to obtain sexual favors. However, some local observers see this affair as a settling of scores rather than a simple denunciation.
In any case, the two ministers should be replaced upon the return of the transitional president, who is currently on an official visit to Paris.
This affair sparked contrasting reactions in the local press. Some welcome the ministers’ gesture, stressing that political resignations are rare in Chad. Others express doubts about the real motivations behind these videos and wonder about the political consequences for the country.
This series of resignations highlights the issue of politicians’ privacy and how it can be exploited in the public arena. It also raises questions about the protection of personal data and the responsibility of individuals who distribute compromising content. This case highlights the importance of responsible use of social media and security measures to avoid such incidents.
It now remains to be seen what the political consequences of these resignations will be and how the Chadian government will bounce back. In the meantime, this case highlights the challenges facing politicians and the need for exemplary behavior, both publicly and privately.