Chad: Idriss Deby in Niamey, Kebzabo’s meeting « cancelled

While the Head of State of Chad and candidate for the next presidential elections, Marshal Idriss Deby Itno, suspended his electoral campaign to go to Niamey to attend the inauguration of the new Nigerien leader, Mohamed Bazoum, the meeting of the president of the UNDR party, Saleh Kebzabo, scheduled for this Friday (14:00 GMT) in front of his home, was not authorized. Reason given?

The outgoing President and candidate for the next presidential elections, Marshal Idriss Deby Itno, has suspended his campaign for a trip to Niamey, in the company of the First Lady. The Chadian head of state is expected to attend the official inauguration ceremony of the President-elect, Bazoum Mohamed, this Friday.

Meanwhile, the meeting of the president of the UNDR party, Saleh Kebzabo, also scheduled for Friday (14:00 GMT), in front of his house, has not been authorized. The reason given is the withdrawal of the UNDR candidacy from the presidential race. However, the 3rd vice-president of the UNDR, Al Mahadi Oumar Akacha, had sent a letter to the mayor of the 6th district on 31 March, to inform him of the organisation of the meeting as part of the electoral campaign.

According to the party, the annotated letter was handed over on 1 April to a security agent at the home of Saleh Kebzabo. In a statement, the UNDR said that it « is not a state service with which one communicates with a simple annotation. It adds that it is a legally constituted party and has the right to carry out political activities.

The UNDR issued a statement on Thursday calling on its activists to « take part massively in an important meeting at the national headquarters to prepare the meeting of Saleh Kebzabo. It assures that the meeting « will indeed take place » at the Paris-Congo stadium in N’Djamena, according to the Chadian press.