The Chad junta is called a transitional government

The military junta that seized power in Chad last month after the shock death of veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno appointed a transitional government on Sunday, the army spokesman said.

Deby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat, who took the helm of the so-called Transitional Military Council (CMT), appointed a government of 40 ministers and deputy ministers and created a new national reconciliation ministry, the spokesman said in a televised statement.

The new ministry will be led by Acheick Ibn Oumar, a former rebel leader who became a diplomatic adviser to the 2019 presidency.

While the main opposition leader, Saleh Kebzabo, was not appointed to the transitional government, another opposition figure, Mahamat Ahmat Alhabo, will be the justice minister, junta spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said.

Opposition parties have denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating “Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia’s intelligence have been made more than once.

Earlier on Sunday, the junta announced the lifting of a curfew imposed after Deby’s death.

The army said Deby died of wounds sustained in fighting with rebel forces in northern poor Sahel last month.

Tensions are high in the country, and the military says six people were killed last week during demonstrations in the capital N’Djamena and south against junta formation.

A local aid group has stated the number of deaths to be nine. More than 650 people were arrested during the protests, which had been banned by the authorities.

The military has said Deby died during clashes with rebels from the Libyan-based Front for Change and Consistency in Chad (FACT), which launched an election campaign on April 11.

The announcement of Deby’s death came just a day after he was declared the winner of the presidential election, leaving him a sixth term after three decades of ironclad rule in the former French colony.

(AFP)