Chad’s veteran opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo who was recently appointed the country’s Prime Minister has hailed the leader of the junta Mahamat Idriss Déby, describing him as a ‘democrat’.
“I trust him. He’s a young man who believes in democracy,” Kebzabo said, in an interview with newsmen.
“I didn’t decide. He asked me to take it. In a position like this, you can’t say no because you are called to be in the service of your country at a very high level,” he added.
Kebzabo stated that the military was no longer in charge and that he would resign from office if Gen. Déby broke his promise to organise free and fair elections in Chad.
After his father was killed in a conflict with rebel forces, Gen. Déby took over the presidency in April of last year.
Albert Pahimi Padacke, the former prime minister of Chad, resigned in order to make way for a new administration after the Central African nation postponed elections by two years.
From 2016 to 2018, Padacke also held the position of prime minister. He was seen as an associate of the late president Idriss Deby, who presided over Chad for 30 years before passing away in 2021.
The passing of the senior Deby opened the door for negotiations between the military council and rebel factions, some of which were led by the former president’s kin.