Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, the Transitional President of the Republic of Chad, hailed the outcomes of his January visit to Moscow. Speaking in an interview with France 24 TV channel, the head of state described discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin as constructive, focusing on cooperation across various domains.
"We engaged in highly productive discussions with President Putin, marked by mutual respect. We focused on matters where our perspectives align," stated the Chadian leader.
The president highlighted that the talks encompassed not only military collaboration but also economic engagement and diplomatic relations. "We addressed a range of topics: military cooperation, economic interactions, diplomatic engagements... I am content with the outcome of this visit," he emphasized, underscoring the significance of bilateral economic ties between Russia and Chad.
When questioned about N'Djamena's relations with Paris, the head of state affirmed that "Chad is committed to collaborating with all nations willing to cooperate on the basis of mutual respect."
The situation in Chad
As reported by RFI radio, election campaigning commenced in Chad on Sunday. The country's Constitutional Court has cleared ten candidates to contest the election. Among them are the incumbent transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, and Prime Minister Xuksé Masra, who are considered the primary contenders for victory. The voting is scheduled for May 6. In the event that no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be held.
In the previous election for the highest office held in April 2021, Idriss Déby Itno (father of the current leader) was re-elected after leading the country for approximately 30 years. However, rebel forces invaded Chad from their bases in Libya on election day. While the main rebel forces were swiftly defeated, the president, who personally led the operation, succumbed to wounds a few days later.
Following this, power was assumed by the army under his son Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno's leadership. A transitional national council and government were established.
In October 2022, both authorities and opposition agreed to extend the transitional period until 2024.
During discussions with Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in January, Putin assured that Moscow would monitor the situation in Chad and contribute to its stabilization. In return, the Chadian transitional president hailed the visit to Moscow as historic.
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Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS