Chad's interim parliament, built to prepare the country for civilian rule, has finally been announced after a five-month wait. But is the National Transition Council merely window dressing for the military junta?
Image: Blaise Dariustone/DW
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Earlier this week, Chad officially swore in its interim parliament, the National Transition Council (CNT).
Chad's military junta — which emerged after the death of longtime ruler Idriss Deby Itno — named the 93-member assembly. The CNT effectively replaces the former national assembly which existed under Deby's regime. For now, Chad is ruled by a military junta.
Deby, who was killed under unclear circumstances in April during military battles with the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel group, was succeeded by his 39-year-old son, Mahamat Deby, a general in the Chadian army.
Some members of the CNT are relatively unknown in Chadian politics, while some have standing.
Among the known figures are the former president of the national assembly and current speaker, Haroun Kabadi, and former Prime Minister Kassire Coumakoye.
Figures known to have opposed Idriss Deby include Ngarledji Yorongar and Felix Romadoumngar.
"The CNT will have independence, because, when it comes to voting on texts, no one will come with arms and chains to ask us to vote on this or that text," Romadoumngar told DW. "We are not going to vote on a constitution that will simply be applied in the National Transitional Council."
Former Deputy Beral Mbaikoubou told DW that the CNT's work would be more transparent, and would prepare Chad for a return to civilian rule.
Chad forces clash with protesters decrying takeover (2021)
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"The strength of our institutions has been undermined for several years because the powers were all concentrated in the hands of a single individual," Mbaikoubou said. "Therefore, all these texts must be groomed and especially the fundamental law, the Constitution of the Republic, must be rewritten."
Problematic CNT makeup
Critics say it took the regime five months to name the interim parliament — for a mandate of 18 months. In the meantime, there has been no sign of movement on the "national dialogue".
"The delay in setting up the CNT will have an impact on the declared timetable. It will be impossible to meet the 18-month deadline," Chadian political analyst Ousmane Houzibe said.
Criticism has also been launched at the makeup of the CNT itself: It consists of at least 30% members of the previous National Assembly, 30% women and 30% young people.
Wakit Tama, which campaigns for a return to civilian rule, protests in Chad's capitalImage: Blaise Daruistone/DW
But no one from the main opposition alliance, Wakit Tama, which campaigns for a return to civilian rule, has been included in the CNT.
"The CNT is an echo chamber. There won't be any change," said Yaya Dillo, a veteran socialist activist.
"It will be no different from the old National Assembly, and that skews the much-expected dialogue," said Max Loalngar, Wakit Tama's spokesman and head of the Chadian League of Human Rights.
"The question is: Will some of the members who are in there — will they really stay in the parliament?" said Helga Dickow, a Chad specialist with Germany's Arnold Bergstraesser Institute. "At the moment, we have haven't got a clue if this parliament has got any influence at all."
His father's regime has been described as authoritarian and intolerant of dissent.
Skirmishes and armed fights between forces loyal to Deby and FACT fighters threatened to throw Chad into turmoil earlier this year. But the Wakit Tama group wants a swift return to a civilian-led government.
Chadian forces criticize the France-supported G5 Sahel coalition, but the military has also been used to quell internal rebel forces such as FACTImage: Abdoulaye Adoum Mahamat/AA/picture alliance
"Some quite-heavyweight members of Wakit Tama said they would join the CNT," Dickow said, pointing out that former opposition party members are involved — including outspoken ones. But she fears that their presence there is merely something that the junta can show off to international observers.
"I would say they are toothless tigers in the new government," Dickow said.
Idriss Deby ruled for 20 years before his death paved the way for his son's ascentImage: Ludovic Marin/AP/picture alliance
Chad's military has been a vital component of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, which was assembled to fight terrorism in the region. And while Dickow believes neighboring states like Niger and Nigeria are not interested in seeing Chad collapse, the younger Deby still must build up relations with neighboring and regional leaders, despite being groomed for this role by his father.
"It certainly is a weaker regime, because the younger Deby now hasn't got all the power and international relations his father had," she said.
Chad: A country with unknown wealth
Chad remains one of the poorest countries in the world — despite huge oil deposits. But the commodities boom also hides the view of its almost unknown wealth. A journey of discovery in pictures.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Chadians impoverished amid oil wealth
Chad, a country in central Africa, is often equated with violence and instability. It remains one of the poorest countries in the world — despite huge oil deposits. But the commodities boom also hides the view of its almost unknown wealth. A journey of discovery in pictures.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Time Zone in the Ennedi Plateau
Time seems to stand still on the Ennedi Plateau, a sandstone desert in the northeast of the country. Here, people and animals live their lives in harmony with the natural rhythms of days and years. There’s no rush, no counting of minutes. Time does pass but at a different speed.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Survivors
Kalait is the last trading post before the great desert to the north. Only sand and dust are seen here. A scorching sun, aridity and temperatures above 50° are not uncommon around here. Living in this environment is unimaginable. Nevertheless, there are living creatures who defy the harsh conditions of the desert.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Source of Life
Guelta d'Archei is probably the Sahara’s most famous watering hole. It lies in the middle of the rocky Ennedi Plateau. To reach this place one needs a camel or jeep. This natural source of water is the basis of life for plants, animals and humans. The Guelta d'Archei bears witness to the past, to a time when the area was once greener and home to the Nile crocodiles. Today only a handful remain.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Migrating herds
Millions of animals such as cattle, camels, goats and sheep make up a large part of the country's inhabitants. For many Chadians, cattle means wealth and a safe investment which can be sold whenever necessary. The animals can be seen at water points, wells, roads and markets.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Fertile fields
Rice is one of the major grains grown in the fertile plains of the river Logone in southern Chad. Logone is the second largest river in the country. Every year it provides the Chadian population with arable land, ensuring the nutrition of whole towns and villages. Every year, 150,000 tones of rice are sown and harvested by hand from this area alone.
Image: Albrecht Harder
White Gold
Chad is dependent on oil. But the most important export commodity is cotton. The state enterprise 'Coton Tchad' buys handpicked balls, cleans them and then exports the cotton. Many villages in the south of the country have brought some prosperity and independence to their households through the cultivation of cotton that is practiced on a monoculture basis.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Connected to home
Gaoui is a village located ten kilometers northeast of the capital N'Djamena. Human beings and nature seem to be one here. Traditions and shared ethnic and linguistic roots hold the villages together — so strongly that even former residents help make their village a better place for future generations.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Handwork
Under the scorching sun, farmers work near the eastern city of Biltine. Most own one or two acres of fields. From sowing and harvesting, to drying and threshing - everything is done by hand. Some produce, such as peanuts, is cultivated by women. At the end of the rainy season everybody joins in to harvest the crops.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Market day
Almost everything is traded in Abeche: millet, maize, rice, cassava, beans, bananas, papayas - depending on the season. The town, which borders Sudan, is traditionally one of the most important commercial hubs of the Sahel. Traders come here to sell their cattle, spices, oil, milk and baskets. Sometimes there are also modern imported goods. At the end of market day it's time to celebrate.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Wisdom
The average life expectancy of the Chadian population is 48 years. The older the person, the greater the respect from the community. Traditionally they act as judges and pass on their valuable experience, their stories and values. Their faces convey dignity and wisdom.
Image: Albrecht Harder
Future generations
The average age of the population is 16.3 years. Most Chadians regard children as their greatest wealth. They exist only in the plural, there are no individual children. At Gagal in the southeast of Chad, they form the majority of the population. Chad’s young people represent tremendous potential for new ideas and the future. Author: Albrecht Harder/im - Editor: Susan Houlton
