Russia positively assesses the efforts of Chad's interim government aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the country and hopes that democratic elections will soon take place in the republic, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Wednesday.
"We positively assess the fact that the transitional military council has identified maintaining peace and stability in the republic and taking effective measures to ensure national security and territorial integrity as its main tasks," she said.
Zakharova noted that Russia expects that the provisional authorities will facilitate Chad's swift transition to a civilian form of government by holding free and democratic elections within a set timeframe. "We support efforts aimed at organizing a broad, nationwide dialogue and forum in the country with the participation of all political forces," the diplomat added.
According to her, Russia is interested in developing a bilateral partnership with Chad, as well as in ensuring sustainable development of the African continent as a whole.
On April 11, units of the rebel group Front for Change and Reconciliation in Chad invaded Chad and launched an offensive against the capital N'Djamena. They were met by large governmental forces under the personal command of President Idriss Deby Itno. It was announced on 20 April that the head of state, who had been in power for more than 30 years, had been killed in action against the rebels.
A transitional military council of 15 high-ranking officers was created to take full authority. Lieutenant General Mahamat Idriss Deby, son of the deceased president, headed the council and at the same time head of state for the transitional period. The constitution was suspended, the Parliament and the Government were dissolved. The military leadership of Chad has announced that it will hold democratic elections in the country in 18 months for renewed State structures.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS