MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the military junta crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Chad

13.12.2022 - (2022/2993(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

Pedro Marques, Evin Incir
on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0575/2022

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

B9‑0577/2022

European Parliament resolution on the military junta crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Chad

(2022/2993(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its previous resolution on Chad of 20 May 2021 and on EU-African security cooperation in the Sahel region, West Africa and the Horn of Africa of 16 September 2020,

 

–  having regard the statement by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the death of President Idriss Déby Itno of 20 April 2021,

 

–  having regard the statement by the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General on Chad of 20 April 2021,

 

–  having regard to the Report of the Investigation Mission to Chad from April to May 2021 of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union,

 

–  having regard the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram, mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council, and supported by the EU African Peace Facility,

 

–  having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2359 (2017) on the deployment of the G5 Sahel Joint Force (FC-G5S),

 

–  having regard to the joint declaration of the European Council and Member States of the G5 Sahel on security, stability and development of the Sahel of 28 April 2020,

 

–  having regard to the Council conclusions on reaffirming the importance of a solid and long-term partnership between the EU and the Sahel of April 2021,

 

–  having regard to the European Development Fund 2014-2020 National Indicative Programme for Chad,

 

–  having regard to the Constitution of Chad,

 

–  having regard to the Cotonou Agreement,

 

–  having regard to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which was adopted on 27 June 1981 and entered into force on 21 October 1986;

 

–  having regard to the 2019 Global Terrorism Index,

 

–  having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

 

–  having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure

 

1. Whereas since the death of former President Idriss Déby Itno in April 2021, Chad has been ruled by the Transitional Military Council, led by his son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno;

 

2. whereas the Transitional Military Council pledged to hold democratic elections within 18 months of assuming power; whereas on 1 October 2022 General Mahamat Déby  announced that the elections would be delayed by an additional two years;

 

3. whereas on 20 October 2022 thousands of people protested across Chad to demand an immediate return to democratic rule; whereas in anticipation of this on 19 October the Minister of Public Security prohibited all demonstrations in the country;  whereas in response to the protests police fired live gunfire and tear gas at peaceful protesters, in a continued and widespread crackdown throughout the country;

 

4. whereas these anti-government protests led to hundreds of injuries and the death of at least 50 people following clashes between the protesters and security forces; whereas the death toll is likely to be much higher; whereas opposition supporters were targeted and harassed;

 

5. whereas according to the United Nations Committee against Torture, approximately 1400 people were arrested and detained across the country following the protests; whereas 400 of the arrested protesters were transported and held in the remote maximum security prison Koro Toro; whereas on 5 December 2022, 262 detained protesters were sentenced up to  three years in prison;

 

6. whereas the trials were held in the remote prison with little transparency or public information available: whereas protesters were denied access to justice and their defence lawyers boycotted the trials in protest of the mistreatment of the prisoners:

 

7. whereas the security situation in the Sahel region has significantly deteriorated in recent years, posing a serious threat to regional and international security; whereas human rights violations and mass killings are widespread; whereas the Sahel saw the most rapid increase in violent extremist activity of any region in 2019;

 

 

1. Deplores the deadly violence and repression perpetrated against pro-democracy protestors in the protests of October 2022, and deeply regrets the loss of life;
2. Condemns the restriction of the fundamental right to demonstrate and the use of violence against protestors and civil society in Chad; urges the authorities to fully respect the country’s national and international commitments, notably the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association, and the right to physical integrity;
3. Calls for the opening of an independent and impartial investigation in order to prosecute the perpetrators of violence against individuals and civil society; takes note of the announcement by Prime Minister Kebzado of the opening of a Judicial Commission, and emphasises this should be a genuinely independent process; 
4. Condemns the prosecution of pro-democracy protesters in mass trials which failed to adhere to international standards on transparency and access to justice; calls for the sentences to be overturned and the protestors to be released;
5. Deeply regrets the extension of the rule of the Transitional Military Council and the failure of the regime to uphold its commitment to a democratic transition;
6. Calls urgently for new transparent, inclusive, and credible legislative and presidential elections to be organised as soon as possible, which fully respect the national constitution and international electoral standards including the full participation of opposition parties; notes the importance of an independent and transparent national electoral commission and cooperation with international partners in this regard;
7. Recalls that genuine democratic transition and reform must be civilian-led and allow for the full and active involvement of civil society organisations, women and young people, opposition parties and the free press, which are able to operate without violence, intimidation or restrictions;
8. Deplores the continual violence and terrorist attacks which have taken place in the country; reiterates its concern about the protracted crisis in Chad and the volatile security situation in the north, and strongly condemns the repeated violations of human rights, international and humanitarian law;
9. Is extremely concerned at the continuing levels of corruption and impunity in Chad; notes that the failure to address such impunity for human rights violations contributes to the continuation of such abuses and to the weakening of public trust in state institutions;
10. Recalls that climate change, food insecurity, population growth, exploitation of natural resources, poverty and a lack of educational and economic opportunities are root causes driving instability, violence and terrorist recruitment across the Sahel; emphasises that coordination of security, development, humanitarian and democracy-support assistance is necessary to ensure lasting sustainable development across the region;
11. Notes that regional cooperation and initiatives   including the African Union and G5 Sahel group are key actors in supporting an Africa-led strategy to addressing terrorism and instability in the Sahel; underlines its support for the European Peace Facility and its cooperation with the regional Multinational Joint Task Force;
12. Welcomes the regionalisation process of CSDP presence in the Sahel region, with a view to reinforcing a regional approach in the EU work in the region, to support cross-border cooperation in the Sahel and amongst regional cooperation structures, and to enhance national capacities of the G5 Sahel countries;
13. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Government and National Assembly of Chad, and the African Union and its institutions.