MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Chad

18.5.2021 - (2021/2695(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Malik Azmani, Olivier Chastel, Katalin Cseh, Klemen Grošelj, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Nathalie Loiseau, Karen Melchior, Frédérique Ries, María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, Michal Šimečka, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Ramona Strugariu, Hilde Vautmans, Javier Nart
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0290/2021

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0293/2021

European Parliament resolution on the situation in Chad

(2021/2695(RSP))

The European Parliament,

1. #Whereas the EU supports the G5 Sahel, a collaborative defence effort between Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, which coordinates the action in regional development and security in fighting terrorism and brings stability to the region in which the Chadian Army is a key element; whereas Mauritania and Niger have been designated the role of mediators by the G5 Sahel peers to ensure inclusive dialogue between all protagonists in the current unrest in Chad and to create the conditions for a consensual, peaceful and successful transition;
2. Whereas on 6 February 2021, President Idriss Déby announced his nomination to run for a 6th term after 31 years in power and this caused significant discontent and protests among the political opposition;
3. Whereas protests that followed the nomination of Idriss Déby as candidate resulted in numerous arrest, including of the human rights defender, Mahamat Nour Ibedoum; whereas  Succès Masra, the leader of the Les Transformateurs party, took refuge in the United States embassy to escape the police;
4. Whereas on 8 February, the Chadian police announced that seven people had been indicted at the Court of Ndjamena courthouse; these seven people were arrested in front of the United States Embassy at the same time that Succès Masra and ten others had taken refuge there;
5. Whereas on 28 February, the mother, son, and three other members of the family of the opposition leader Yaya Dillo  were killed in a raid on his house led whereas a government spokesperson said that Dillo had failed to respond to two judicial mandates, and that two people were killed and five injured, including three police officers;
6. Whereas on 11 April 11, the elections were largely boycotted by the opposition and some members of civil society;
7. Whereas on the same day a group of armed Chadian rebels who had taken part in the Lybian conflict as entered Chadian territory from Libya and launched a military offensive at the border with Libya;
8. Whereas on April 17, rebel forces advanced towards the centre of the country and fighting took place in Kanem province, about 300 km from the capital N'djamena;
9. Whereas on 19 April, the Chadian electoral commission announced that Idriss Déby had been re-elected with 79.32% of the vote with a large abstention;
10. Whereas on 20 April, the Chadian army fought with rebels of the ‘Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) whose objective was to overthrow the Chadian President at the Libyan border; whereas during this battle President Idriss Déby was killed;
11. Whereas in the early afternoon of 20 April, the army announced on state radio that one of the sons of the late president, Mahamat Idriss Déby, Commander of the fighting DGSIE, had been appointed head of a Military Council responsible for the succession of the late president; whereas the government and the assembly were dissolved and the Constitution was suspended; whereas the Transitional Military Council established a charter which grants all powers to the military with the possibility of renewal, without democratic consultation;
12. Whereas numerous demonstrations have been organised by the politico-civil coalition Wakit Tama, in response to the appointment of Mahamat Idriss Déby as head of the country for the transition period; whereas these demonstrators demand the resignation of the Military Council which they consider to be the result of a coup d’état and demand the return to a democratic transition in accordance with the Constitution; whereas the constitution was suspended by the Military Council; 
13. Whereas on 27 April, Chadian security forces fired live ammunition at a group of demonstrators, killing at least nine people and injuring some 20, three of them being seriously injured; whereas several journalists were reportedly arrested during these protests; some were intimidated and others reportedly had their photos and videos deleted and their tools confiscated; whereas according to the N'Djamena prosecutor, more than 650 persons were arrested and are being tried by the courts; whereas 50 demonstrators are still being held at the N'Djamena prison; whereas there have been reports of close to 1000 arbitrary arrests of protesters by the transitional Military Council security forces;
14. Whereas on 28 April, the Military Council appointed a transitional government with a civilian Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke, with the participation of some members of the opposition; whereas Padacke was runner-up in the 11April  presidential election despite being considered one of late Deby’s allies and served as Prime Minister the from 2016 to 2018;
15. Whereas on 8 May, there were new demonstrations organised by the politico-civil coalition Wakit Tama, there were at least three protestors wounded by gunshots of the security forces; whereas further demonstrations are scheduled for May 19;
16. Whereas freedom of speech has been restricted with the internet being cut in areas where demonstrations took place;
    1. Deplores the killing of President Idriss Déby and the recent violence and loss of life as a result of violent armed groups in the region, including by the jihadist group Boko Haram; recognises the significant role and efforts that President Idriss Déby has played in participating in the fight against jihadism to ensure stability in the Sahel region;
    2. Is convinced that current divisions within the Chadian society cannot be addressed through military means and calls on all parties to refrain from violent action, engage in political dialogue and preserve the lives of civilian populations;
    3. Recognises the importance of Chad’s military in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region and within the framework of the G5 cooperation; Commends Chad’s significant contribution to the peace process in the region which has been an ongoing process for the several years;
    4. Urges the EU and its member States to consider Mauritania and Niger’s role as important actors in the security and development of the Sahel; calls on Presidents Mohamed Ould Cheick El Ghayouani from Mauritania and Mohamed Bazoum from Niger to continue assisting Chad as mediators in the Chadian crisis until there is a long lasting and peaceful conclusion to the current crisis; Reiterates that there is no military solution to instability in Chad;
    5. Insists on the importance of the territorial integrity and stability of Chad in the fragile security context of the region;
    6. Calls on the Transitional Military Council to ensure an unhindered and swift return to Constitutional order as provided for in the 2018 Chadian Constitution and to ensure that democratic values are upheld; Calls on the TMC to create and ensure the conditions for an inclusive national dialogue between government and civil society actors and to ensure a peaceful, civilian-led and timely transition to democratic, free and fair elections that would lead to a democratically elected President and inclusive government;
    7. Notes that the appointment of a civilian transitional government including members of some opposition groups is a first step to returning to constitutional order, but insists that the Transitional Military Council can and must only be limited in time; Insists that a swift and peaceful return to democratic representation must be achieved; Notes that the TMC cannot replace a democratically elected government in line with Chad’s constitution; Warns against the hijacking of constitutional order for personal interests or authoritarian and anti-democratic gains;
    8. Calls on Chadian security forces to ensure that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of peaceful assembly, is upheld at all times, to combat impunity, strengthen freedom of speech, and to clearly condemn the recent repression of protests; Calls on Chad to strengthen its democratic systems; Calls on Chad to restore internet communications and to allow for a free flow of information in an effort to strengthen freedom of expression;
    9. Condemns the excessive, illegitimate and disproportionate use of force by the security forces against demonstrators that demand a return of constitutional order; recalls that the use of armed violence only exacerbates an already fragile political context;
    10. Reminds the Chadian authorities of their international commitments to respect democratic principles and human rights is an essential condition for the stability of the country and urges them to put an end to violence;
    11. Calls on the judicial authorities to open immediate, impartial and independent commission of inquiry to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the violence that caused the death and injury of innocent civilians, protesters, human rights defenders, journalists and activists;  Calls for the immediate release of peaceful demonstrators that were arrested during the marches organised by the opposition and certain members of civil society; Calls on Chad to ensure the protection and continuity of the political opposition as to strengthen fair and democratic representation of the people;
    12. Stresses that Chad is and should remain a strong partner of the EU and reiterates its commitment to ensure dialogue and a peaceful solution to the current political crisis;
    13. Calls on the international community to support Chad in its efforts towards democracy; Calls in particular on the African Union and the G5 to support Chad in enabling an inclusive and inter-societal dialogue with a lasting and peaceful solution; Reiterates the need to refrain from intrusive external interference and to protect Chad’s unity, stability and territorial integrity;
    14. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, Vice-President of the European Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the ACP-EU Council, the institutions of the African Union, and the authorities of Chad.

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