Les organisations religieuses chrétiennes se retirent du dialogue national inclusif

Le 3 septembre, la Conférence épiscopale tchadienne a annoncé la suspension de sa participation aux séances du dialogue national inclusif et souverain, qui doit permettre la tenue des élections libres et démocratiques, et la remise du pouvoir aux civils. Les évêques dénoncent notamment le manque d’inclusion et refusent de cautionner la mainmise d’un groupe sur le processus de ce dialogue. Ils ont également affirmé qu’ils accepteraient de prendre part aux négociations si les démarches leur semblent sincères.

Christian religious organizations withdraw from inclusive national dialogue

On September 3, the Chadian Episcopal Conference announced that it was suspending its participation in the sessions of the inclusive and sovereign national dialogue, which should lead to free and democratic elections and the handover of power to civilians. The bishops denounced the lack of inclusion and refused to support the control of one group over the dialogue process. They have also stated that they would agree to take part in the negotiations if they felt the steps were sincere.

D’importants débats religieux sur fond de nouveau code civil

Au Tchad, le milieu religieux s’oppose largement aux nouvelles propositions sur le projet de Code de la famille soutenu par plusieurs participants du dialogue national. Cheickh Ali Nahar Zene s’oppose particulièrement au mariage homosexuel. Le religieux musulman a ainsi déclaré "ce n'est pas de notre culture. Un homme qui épouse un homme et une femme qui épouse une femme, nous ne sommes pas des animaux". Par ailleurs, certains participants ont recommandé de favoriser le mariage entre les différentes confessions religieuses, une proposition pour laquelle Cheickh Ali Nahar Zene est également en désaccord.

Important religious debates on the background of the new civil code

In Chad, the religious community is largely opposed to the new proposals on the draft Family Code supported by several participants in the national dialogue. Cheickh Ali Nahar Zene is particularly opposed to same-sex marriage. The Muslim cleric said "it is not of our culture. A man who marries a man and a woman who marries a woman, we are not animals. In addition, some participants have recommended to promote marriage between different religious denominations, a proposal for which Cheickh Ali Nahar Zene also disagrees.

Plusieurs participants au dialogue national tchadien se retirent des discussions

Depuis le début du mois d’août, plusieurs participants se sont retirés du dialogue national inclusif. A l’annonce de la liste du présidium du dialogue, un certain nombre de participants a vivement protesté, certains dénoncent une supercherie et annoncent qu’ils ne participeront plus au dialogue. Outre les religieux, certaines figures de premier plan comme l’ancien ministre Siddick Abdelkerim Haggar, à la tête d’une coalition de partis politiques et associations, ont annoncé qu’ils quittaient le dialogue. Ils rejoignent ainsi les Transformateurs et Wakit Tamma, les deux principales organisations qui refusent depuis le début de participer au dialogue.

Several participants in Chad's national dialogue withdraw from talks

Since early August, several participants have withdrawn from the inclusive national dialogue. When the list of the dialogue presidium was announced, a number of participants protested strongly, some denouncing it as a sham and announcing that they would no longer participate in the dialogue. In addition to the clerics, some prominent figures such as former minister Siddick Abdelkerim Haggar, who heads a coalition of political parties and associations, have announced that they are leaving the dialogue. They join the Transformers and Wakit Tamma, the two main organizations that have refused to participate in the dialogue since the beginning.

Des violences intercommunautaires entre agriculteurs et éleveurs dans le sud du pays font polémique

Unprecedented floods affect more than 350,000 people in Chad

According to a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 340,000 Chadians have been affected by flooding. The flooding was caused by torrential rains in the country in recent weeks. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by flooding. These rains, which are indicative of the ongoing climate change, have caused the destruction of many crops, weakening the food security of many Chadians.

L'arabe local et le sara suggérés comme langues nationales au Tchad

Selon certains experts et hommes politiques comme Yacine Abdaraman Sakin (chef du Parti réformiste), il existe un problème de langue au Tchad. Le bilinguisme prévoit ainsi la reconnaissance du français et de l’arabe littéraire comme langues officielles. Cependant, ces deux langues ne sont pas maîtrisées par la plupart des Tchadiens selon Sakin. Afin d’être plus représentatif de la population, l’arabe local et le sara, deux langues largement parlées localement, sont proposées. L’anglais, identifié par des spécialistes comme langue du commerce et d’avenir, est également proposé.

Local Arabic and Sara are suggested as national languages in Chad

According to some experts and politicians such as Yacine Abdaraman Sakin (leader of the Reformist Party), there is a language problem in Chad. Bilingualism provides for the recognition of French and literary Arabic as official languages. However, according to Sakin, these two languages are not mastered by most Chadians. In order to be more representative of the population, local Arabic and Sara, two languages widely spoken locally, are proposed. English, identified by specialists as the language of commerce and the future, is also proposed.

L’ancien chef rebelle Tom Erdimi accueilli avec enthousiasme au Tchad

Tom Erdimi est arrivé à N'Djamena le 16 septembre, seulement deux jours après sa sortie de prison en Egypte. Des centaines de membres de la famille Erdimi étaient présents parmi lesquels son frère Timane, dirigeant le groupe rebelle de l’Union des forces de la résistance. Les autorités tchadiennes comme le ministre de la Réconciliation nationale Acheikh Ibn Oumar, ou encore l’ancien chef de l’opposition Saleh Kebzabo qui a négocié les accords de paix avec les politico-militaires à Doha, étaient présents. Il doit participer au dialogue national inclusif.

Former rebel leader Tom Erdimi welcomed in Chad

Tom Erdimi arrived in N'Djamena on September 16, just two days after his release from prison in Egypt. Hundreds of Erdimi family members were present, including his brother Timane, leader of the Union of Resistance Forces rebel group. Chadian authorities such as the Minister of National Reconciliation Acheikh Ibn Oumar, and former opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo, who negotiated the peace agreements with the politico-military in Doha, were present. He is expected to participate in the inclusive national dialogue.

A Moundou, les jeunes musulmans formés sur le mariage islamique

In Moundou, young Muslims trained on Islamic marriage

In Moundou, on September 8, the Association of Young Muslims for Peace and Development launched a training on Islamic marriage, its conditions and marital life. The training is aimed at young men and women, and aims to improve married life in Muslim couples. This training is organized in a context of increasing divorce rates in Chad.

L'évêque de Sarh appelle à la justice à la suite du conflit dans le département du Lac-Iro

Bishop of Sarh calls for justice following conflict in Lac-Iro department

Following the deadly inter-community conflict of mid-September in the Lac-Iro department (Moyen Chari province), in southeastern Chad, the bishop of Sarh launched an urgent appeal for justice and truth, so that light may be shed on these deadly situations. At least nineteen people were killed in mid-September during a few days of clashes between herders and farmers. The prelate also called for solidarity in the face of this situation. The nomads generally come from the arid Sahelian zones of northern Chad and are seeking to settle on more fertile land suitable for raising their camels and sheep.