By Ebi Kesiena
A Chadian government official has disclosed on Saturday that the government has lifted the suspension of political activities by several opposition parties imposed following a violent crackdown on demonstrations three months ago.
Recall that the ruling military had in late October suspended the political parties after a deadly crackdown on anti-junta protesters which forced many into hiding and sparked international condemnation.
According to Minister of Territorial Administration Limane Mahamat the parties could now resume activity provided they complied with the law.
“The period of suspension having come to an end, the seven political parties aforementioned are invited to resume their activities, while now strictly complying with the legislation in force,” he said.
The suspension came after opposition groups encouraged demonstrations on October 20 to mark the date when the ruling military had initially promised to cede power a timeline now extended by two years by General Mahamat Idriss Deby.
Idriss Deby, 39-year-old took power from his father, who ruled the arid Sahel state for 30 years before dying in an operation against rebels in April 2021.
Police violently repressed the demonstrations in the capital N’Djamena and several other cities.
The government said around 50 people died in the clashes between security forces and anti-regime protesters but the opposition claim the actual toll was much higher with hundreds injured.
The two main opposition groups, Les Transformers and Wakit Tamma had lead a protest branded as “insurrection supported by foreign powers”.
The crackdown forced opposition leaders into hiding both abroad and in Chad and left the parties in disarray.
