Chad frees rebels ahead of national peace-building talks
20 January 2022 |
6:12 am
Chad's transitional authorities on Tuesday (January 18) released the first of some 250 members of armed groups it has promised to free from prison under an amnesty aimed at fostering dialogue after the battlefield death of President Idriss Deby last April.
Justice Minister Ahmat Mahamat Alhabo led a short ceremony at Klessoum prison near the capital N'Djamena, granting the immediate release of 22 detainees convicted of taking up arms against the central government in the past 10 years.
Related
12 Sep 2021
Rebels in Ethiopia's war-torn Tigray region have been looting aid warehouses, the US aid agency said on Tuesday, calling the alleged thefts a "great concern for humanitarians".
26 Sep 2021
Cuban authorities launch a national campaign to vaccinate children aged two to 18 against Covid-19. With the Delta variant spreading across the island of 11.2 million, the country's health care system has been pushed to the brink, and the government says it will only gradually re-open schools for in-person instruction in October after the vaccination campaign among children is completed.
7 Sep 2021
The man behind the coup in Guinea Conakry says he wants a peaceful transition. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya calls a meeting of ministers of ousted president Alpha Condé after banning them from leaving the country and dissolving the government. We take a closer look in this special edition.
8 Sep 2021
The protesters are showing support for the embattled Brazilian leader, who is feuding with the Supreme Court. Counterdemonstrations are also expected.
11 Oct 2021
Chad's interim parliament, built to prepare the country for civilian rule, has finally been announced after a five-month wait. But is the National Transition Council merely window dressing for the military junta?
12 Oct 2021
Suspected militants have killed five soldiers in Indian-administered Kashmir amid a spike in violence in the region. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
24 Oct 2021
According to the World Health Organization, access to healthcare in Chad is still at an embryonic stage. The country has limited data on cancer and no department dedicated to its care, meaning those who are diagnosed are often referred to hospitals abroad. But Jean-Bosco Ndihokubwayo, the WHO's representative to Chad, is optimistic about the country's political will to fight cancer, as authorities plans to build a national treatment centre.
25 Oct 2021
The US government has predicted that climate change will exacerbate geopolitical tensions around the world in a series of new reports. The assessments also highlight how global warming will drive mass migration.
28 Oct 2021
Despite a rise in infections, the parties set to form a new government want to end the national state of emergency. But Germany should not yet expect a "freedom day."
31 Oct 2021
Japan is holding a parliamentary election, which is the first big test for the new prime minister. A poor showing for the ruling party could threaten a return to the country's history of revolving-door premiership.
3 Nov 2021
New security measures are implemented in the Ethiopian capital as a state of emergency is declared. Also, we speak to Sudanese philanthropist Mo Ibrahim about his hopes for a return to civilian-led rule in Sudan, a week after a military takeover. And we take a look at the role of small-scale farmers in Africa's push to tackle climate change, with Sara Mbago-Bhunu from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
9 Nov 2021
Here are a few reasons to pick up a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Wednesday.
Latest
1 day ago
The war in Ukraine has forced a major rethink of European security, with further enlargement of both NATO and the EU now on the table. Kyiv has asked for a fast-track procedure for EU membership. Moldova and Georgia have also applied. The EU has made it clear that Ukraine belongs to the European family. However, admitting several more nations would be highly challenging. And even before the war, the EU was already negotiating with candidate countries Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. We discuss how far the EU should grow, and how fast that process should be, with two MEPs.
1 day ago
As Berlin seeks to ween itself off Russian energy sources, Chancellor Scholz has said Qatar "plays an important role" in energy policy. The visiting Emir of Qatar has confirmed could start LNG deliveries by 2024.
1 day ago
Germany's defense minister has said the anti-aircraft tank will be used to protect "critical infrastructure" in Ukraine from Russian attacks.
1 day ago
On day two of the Cannes Film Festival, FRANCE 24's Olivia Salazar-Winspear tells us why the première of "Top Gun: Maverick" has movie fans jostling to catch a glimpse of US actor Tom Cruise on the red carpet. We also take a look at the first films competing for the Palme d'Or, as Kirill Serebrennikov returns to Cannes to present "Tchaikovsky's Wife". The Russian director was unable to attend the screenings of his last two films, "Petrov's Flu" and "Leto", due to living under virtual house arrest in Moscow in recent years.
1 day ago
Taipei has introduced a "new Taiwan model" to shift away from its "zero-COVID" strategy. But public health experts warn of an increase in COVID-19 fatalities if the island can't streamline policies.
1 day ago
In France, coming out of the closet and living openly as a member of the LGBTI+ community can be a significant psychological, emotional and social challenge. Until just 40 years ago, it was also a legal one. In 1982, the age of consent was lowered from 21 to 18 for homosexuals in France, making it the same for everyone. This landmark law paved the way for important civil liberties, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013. But there are still obstacles to be overcome. To find out more about the ongoing fight for equality, we speak to Sébastien Tüller, LGBTI+ legal advisor for Amnesty International France.