Chad arrests 80 over suspected insurrection

KIGALI, Rwanda

Chadian authorities said Friday they have arrested 80 people suspected of planning “insurrection.”

The suspects belonging to a group named “M3M movement attempted to carry out insurrectional actions on Jan.13,” Gen. Mahamat Mamadou Aboubakar, the director of operations at the Directorate General of Military Intelligence told reporters in the Chadian capital N'Djamena.

“Their attempt was foiled by the security forces. The 80 suspects including their leader identified as Lieutenant Kouroumta Levana Guelemi have been arrested for prosecution,” he said.

Aboubakar urged the population to remain vigilant and report any suspicious cases to the authorities.

The political situation in Chad deteriorated since 2021 following the death of former President Idriss Deby Itno, who died on the frontline of a war against rebels after ruling for 30 years.

His son Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno took the country's leadership following the death of his father.

In January last year, the military government said its security forces thwarted an attempt by a group of army officers to destabilize the country and undermine constitutional order.

President Mahamat Itno was this month designated by his ruling party Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) as its candidate in the presidential election scheduled for this year.

The younger Deby had pledged to hand over power to an elected government after 18 months -- a deadline that was not achieved.