N’DJAMENA, April 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chad’s new junta leader pledged national dialogue as at least five people died on Tuesday during banned protests against his generals, who took power after the shock battlefield death of his father and veteran ruler Idriss Deby Itno.
Deby’s 37-year-old son Mahamat, who heads the so-called Transitional Military Council (TMC), pledged an “inclusive national dialogue” after violent protests in the capital N’Djamena and in the south of the semi-desert country.
The government said at least five people had died in the protests but a local NGO reported nine fatalities – seven in the capital and two in the south.
The Chadian Convention for the Defence of Human Rights (CTDDH) said that in addition to nine deaths, 36 people were wounded and about 12 arrested.”
Also on Tuesday, 12 Chadian soldiers were killed when they were attacked in the northern Lake Chad region used as a rear base by insurgent groups including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a regional governor said.
Mahamat Fadoul Mackaye said 40 insurgents were also killed in the fighting.
On Monday, the military junta appointed Albert Pahimi Padacke as transitional prime minister, who called for a nationwide effort to speed the return to civilian rule.
Mahamat Deby on Tuesday also pledged to “fight terrorism and respect all its international obligations.” — NNN-AGENCIES