Thursday- 9th June, 2021: Leading figures in Chadian leaders, including ex-ministers, former presidential advisers and MPs, have called for the military council to concede to a more inclusive transition following the death President Idriss Déby in April.
He died of his injuries following clashes with rebels in the north of the country - and a day after provisional election results projected he would win a sixth term in office.
The government and parliament were dissolved and his son, 37-year-old four star general Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, took over, saying the military council would be in control until elections were held within 18 months.
But the appeal, signed by about 20 people, including Bédoumra Kordjé, a former minister and current vice-president of the African Development Bank, wants the charter of the military council to be changed so more groups can have a say in the transition.
They also want a national conference to be set up within three months to debate Chad’s political future with an international facilitator in charge.
Déby had spent more than three decades in power and was one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.
He was accused of stifling dissent ahead of April’s election - and most prominent opposition leaders withdrew from the race.
An army officer by training, he was a long-time ally of France and other Western powers in the battle against jihadist groups in the Sahel region of Africa.
