National Transitional Council (Chad)

The National Transitional Council of Chad (French: Conseil national de transition, CNT) is the de facto government of Chad since 10 October 2022. The CNT replaces the Transitional Military Council and the dissolved National Assembly.^[1][2] It acts as an interim parliament for the country in its transition to democracy, tasked with preparations for elections in 2024.^[3][4] It is led by the Prime Minister of Chad.^[5]

History

Formation

Under the Transitional Military Council (CMT), military authorities seized power in Chad following the death of President Idriss Déby in April 2021 and were led by Déby's son, Mahamat Déby. Initially, the council promised a period of 18-months before holding elections in October 2022.^[6] However, a new plan approved on 1 October 2022 following dialogue in August and September, extended the transition another two years until elections in October 2024.^[7] The CMT was then dissolved on 10 October and replaced by the CNT headed by members appointed by Déby, the transitional President of Chad.^[6]

The CNT acts as Chad's parliament. Following a national reconciliation dialogue in early October 2022 that recommended Déby's number of deputies in the CNT, Déby increased it from 93 to 197 on 7 November. The move aimed to integrate a larger variety of members from different political parties, civil society organizations, and rebel groups that joined the national dialogue.^[2]

2023 referendum

On 27 June 2023, 96% of all members of the CMT voted in favour of a new draft constitution.^[8] The new constitution was put forward to Chadian voters as a referendum on 17 December 2023 and passed with 85.9% of the vote.^[9]

On 1 January 2024, former opposition leader Succès Masra was appointed as Prime Minister of Chad. Masra was previously in exile, but returned following reconciliation with the government in November.^[10] Mahamat Ahmad Alhab, the Secretary-General of the Presidency, said Masra premiership would continue until the 2024 parliamentary elections.^[11]

References

1. "Chad's military ruler appoints transitional parliament". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
2. "Chad: Closing Political Space Ahead of Referendum | Human Rights Watch". 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
3. "The uphill battle facing Chad's new Transition Council – DW – 10/08/2021". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
4. "Chad: President Déby appoints 104 more members to parliament". Africa News. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
5. "Saleh Kebzabo named as Chad's new prime minister – DW – 10/12/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
6. Ramadane, Mahamat (2 October 2022). "Junta set to stay in power after Chad delays elections by two years". Reuters. N'Djamena. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
7. Ramadane, Mahamat (2 October 2022). "Junta set to stay in power after Chad delays elections by two years". Reuters. N'Djamena. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
8. "Tchad: le projet de nouvelle Constitution adopté par le Conseil national de transition". RFI (in French). 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
9. "Chad constitution passes with more than 80 percent of vote". www.jurist.org. 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
10. "Chad appoints a former opposition leader as prime minister of transitional government". AP News. 2024-01-01. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
11. "Former Chad opposition leader appointed as PM of transitional government". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-01-03.