Chad’s new leader vows ‘inclusive national dialogue’

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This week in Africa Weekly, Chad's military has declared victory over FACT, the rebel group blamed for killing ex-leader Idriss Deby. The International Criminal Court has sentenced Ugandan warlord Dominic Ongwen to 25 years' imprisonment for war crimes as a key commander of brutal group the Lord's Resistance Army. In Egypt, Muslims celebrate Eid with more ceremony than last year, when Covid-19 shut down festivities at the end of Ramadan. Finally, we explore the world of money changers in Djibouti, an unassuming group of women who keep the wheels of the economy turning.

Chadian soldiers were attacked while patrolling the volatile Lake Chad region. Both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are active in the area.

The former president has died while serving a life term in prison for crimes against humanity. Local media reported that the 79-year-old died of coronavirus.

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?

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.

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.

Severe drought followed by the worst floods in 30 years have lead to rocketing food prices and left a record 2.1 million people in Chad acutely hungry, according to United Nations agencies.

The office of Chad's president announced on Tuesday the resignation of the north-central African country's prime minister to pave the way for a new government.

The ex-opposition politician and former journalist replaces Albert Pahimi Padacke, who was appointed after President Mahamat Idriss Deby seized power in the wake of his father's death.

With elections pushed back by a further two years, Chad's military ruler Mahamat Deby is set to stay on as president. He's also gained expansive new powers as part of several presential resolutions passed

Prolonged drought followed by the heaviest seasonal rains in decades have left herds of cattle, on which Chad's nomads depend, emaciated and producing little milk.