Chad rebel group threatens military-led government

On Tuesday, a Chadian rebel group issued a threat against the country’s military-led government, following another rebel group’s announcement to end a ceasefire from 2021. The interim president has already moved to the frontline in response.

Tensions have reignited along Chad’s northern border with Libya, where the conflict between rebels and the army had recently subsided after the death of President Idriss Deby in 2021 on the battlefield.

Taking power after his father’s demise, Mahamat Idriss Deby aimed to restore peace by granting amnesty to numerous imprisoned rebels and urging groups to engage in peace talks.

Last year, over 30 rebel and opposition factions signed a peace agreement with Chad’s transitional authorities in Doha. However, the most influential insurgent group, Front for Change and Concord (FACT), headquartered in Libya, declined to participate.

Deby experienced another setback on Saturday when FACT accused the authorities of bombing one of its bases during the previous week, leading to the termination of their declared ceasefire from 2021.

In response, Deby stated on Sunday that the army had launched an attack after FACT rebels entered Chadian territory.

Speaking from the frontline in a televised address, Deby declared his presence there for a week to oversee operations and warned FACT that he would personally lead the fight against them if they did not lay down their weapons.

On Tuesday, another rebel group followed suit, pledging to utilize “all necessary means” in order to restore democracy in Chad.

In a statement, the Popular Front for Recovery criticized “a hoard of irresponsible individuals” for taking the country hostage and called for all “patriotic forces” to unite in a “national uprising.”

A resumption of fighting in Chad has the potential to destabilize a long-standing Western ally against Islamist militants who are engaged in an insurgency throughout the Sahel region.

Efforts to combat jihadists have been hindered by a series of coups in West and Central Africa, including a recent military takeover in Niger.

(Reporting by Mahamat Ramadane; Writing by Sofia Christensen; editing by Grant McCool)