Recently, Chad’s newly minted Prime Minister said that unity for the population “is the only way forward”, for the country which is continuously in turmoil since decades. The erstwhile leader of the country, Mahamat Idriss Deby, appointed him as the new Prime Minister for the transitional regime. Saleh Kebzabo, a big opposition figure and a journalist has been tasked with leading the country
The government, which took office last Friday and will preside over Chad until its subsequent elections in two years, was founded with the appointment of several former rebels to cabinet positions. In an interview from the capital, N’Djamena, Kebzabo stated, “My goal is to unite the Chadian people.” The only road ahead in this country, which has seen revolt since gaining independence from France in 1960, is a very difficult one.
Idriss Déby, who governed with an iron fist for thirty years before being assassinated in an operation against rebels in April 2021, was challenged by Kebzabo four times for the presidency. After 18 months in power, the younger Déby’s junta was supposed to restore civilian authority, and he would abdicate from taking part in the upcoming elections so as to maintain its sanctity and unbiasedness. But a nationwide forum staged by Deby reset the clock when the 18- month deadline was coming closer. But still the citizens of Chad are not happy with the military junta regime. Even if there are no sanctions on the country, thanks to the West’s ulterior motives, it is not growing either. Chad’s economy has been tumbling since decades and a pro-US junta is not a new one doing rampant corruption in the country.
Now, the people of Chad have made it clear through their actions that they are not happy with the actions of Deby, and are thus raising questions upon his intentions. The countries surrounding Chad, have had a spate of protests demanding the ouster of West from their respective territories, as they have failed to tackle the problem of Islamic terrorists in the region. Rather, there have been claims by these countries that the western mercenary forces are hand in glove with these jihadists. Having had enough of the western theatrics of trying to solve their problems, the countries in the region have invited the Russian Wagner group to fight. For instance the Russian mercenary group Wagner has been invited by the Niger government to fight jihadist groups. The existence of nations backed by Russia near Chad will cause it problems, as the people of Chad who are already agitated by the u-turn of Deby, will draw inspiration from the actions of people in the neighbouring countries.
Mali which was a part of the G5 Sahel Group was infested with terrorists till France was in charge of Sahel. Even the foreign affairs minister of Mali thrashed France for violating its airspace and providing aid to Islamists to destabilize the country. But apart from the disturbance regarding French violations Mali is being successful in controlling the terror organizations illegally operating on its territory. The Russia backed Wagner Group is very successful in fighting the jihadist forces across the African Continent. The Chadian government must first establish peace in the nation, which is being torn apart by multiple rebel groups and Jihadists, if it wishes to improve the lives of its citizens. The military must be well-equipped for the government with weaponry that may be imported if the economy is booming.
But if Chad stays with Biden, its economy will never grow. Being a puppet of the US is a blunder on the part of Chad.
Chad is a landlocked nation with resources like gold, uranium, bauxite, titanium, etc., but it is unable to cross the borders of nations like Sudan, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Cameroon to transfer its goods, as the surrounding countries know the consequences of trading with Chad. Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic will never trade with the US-backed Chad because they understand that Biden will use the proceeds of the trade to fund terrorism and insurgency in those nations through organisations like the TPLF and M23.
The people of Chad have realized the upcoming consequences of siding with the West. They are seeing what Tunisia is suffering from. A bastion of the West is left abandoned under reeling inflation. Even the West took its food and oil away, midway as their masters are themselves in need of the supplies. The writing on the wall written by the people of Chad is clear for the junta. Break the western shackles and restore democracy in its truest form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyYdq4zsALU