The Government of the Republic of Chad (TD) and multiple rebel organizations commenced peace talks in Doha, Qatar on March 12, 2022. Despite hopes from the international community that the proceedings will help lead the war-torn country towards stability, important rebel groups, such as the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), were not present in Qatar.
Background
The poor and landlocked state of Chad has been in a near constant state of turmoil since gaining independence from France in 1960. The most recent iteration of instability began on April 20, 2021, when longtime leader Idriss Déby was killed during a skirmish with rebel forces in the vicinity of Nokou, Kanem Region, Chad amidst the Northern Chad Offensive.
Mahamat Déby became head of the Chadian government following the death of his father. Mahamat quickly established his dominance, utilizing his authority as a four-star general to form a 15 member military council to address the national emergency. In the days following the death of his father, Mahamat pledged to hold free elections monitored by the international community and draft a new constitution no later than May 2022. It remains to be seen if the Doha talks will impact this timetable.
Doha Talks
While the proceedings in Doha have been hailed by the international community as a step in the right direction, the impact successful proceedings would have on civil instability remains to be seen. As previously mentioned, FACT is not participating in the talks, and as such, conflict will persist unabated in the north of the country. The French Republic appears to be monitoring the meeting closely, as the French military has supported the Déby family overtly on multiple occasions.