By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – Chadian rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby have made their way to the capital and are fighting government troops around the presidential palace.   The rebels closed in on the capital with their pickup trucks mounted with machine guns following battles against Deby’s troops on Friday northeast of the city.

There has been intense gunfire in the city and witnesses report that army tanks have been burning in the streets. The country’s foreign minister however has said the President is safe and that the situation is under control. French Defense Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC that the rebels numbered in the thousands and that they had entered the city with surprising ease.

The French and US embassies had begun evacuation procedures however once the rebels entered the city the French mission told its citizens to stay at home under cover.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the situation of France’s former colony with Deby and reinforced its military contingent on Friday. 

The rebels have said that if they take over they will impose transitional rule for two years before organizing free and fair elections.  Chad has had several coups since their independence from France in 1960.   

President Deby has been in power since 1990, and several years ago caused an outcry when he changed the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.   He has repeatedly been accused of corruption in the new oil sector, and recently there have been several defections from his clan-based inner circle to various rebel movements. 

Chad accuses the Sudanese government of aiding the rebels, claiming the rebels advanced from the war-torn Darfur region heavily armed.  Khartoum has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

Meanwhile, the African Union leaders meeting in Addis Ababa expressed concern over the situation in Chad which has led to a delayed deployment of European Union peacekeepers. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Chad rebels fight inside capital – 2 February 2008

Reuters – Rebels enter Chad’s capital, fight around palace – 2 February 2008

Reuters – France, US prepare to evacuate nationals from Chad – 2 February 2008

VOA News – Chadian Rebels, Government Forces Clash Inside Capital – 2 February 2008

Bloomberg – France Prepares Evacuation of Foreigners in Chad Amid Fighting – 2 February 2008

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – Chadian rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby have made their way to the capital and are fighting government troops around the presidential palace.   The rebels closed in on the capital with their pickup trucks mounted with machine guns following battles against Deby’s troops on Friday northeast of the city.

There has been intense gunfire in the city and witnesses report that army tanks have been burning in the streets. The country’s foreign minister however has said the President is safe and that the situation is under control. French Defense Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC that the rebels numbered in the thousands and that they had entered the city with surprising ease.

The French and US embassies had begun evacuation procedures however once the rebels entered the city the French mission told its citizens to stay at home under cover.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the situation of France’s former colony with Deby and reinforced its military contingent on Friday. 

The rebels have said that if they take over they will impose transitional rule for two years before organizing free and fair elections.  Chad has had several coups since their independence from France in 1960.   

President Deby has been in power since 1990, and several years ago caused an outcry when he changed the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.   He has repeatedly been accused of corruption in the new oil sector, and recently there have been several defections from his clan-based inner circle to various rebel movements. 

Chad accuses the Sudanese government of aiding the rebels, claiming the rebels advanced from the war-torn Darfur region heavily armed.  Khartoum has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

Meanwhile, the African Union leaders meeting in Addis Ababa expressed concern over the situation in Chad which has led to a delayed deployment of European Union peacekeepers. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Chad rebels fight inside capital – 2 February 2008

Reuters – Rebels enter Chad’s capital, fight around palace – 2 February 2008

Reuters – France, US prepare to evacuate nationals from Chad – 2 February 2008

VOA News – Chadian Rebels, Government Forces Clash Inside Capital – 2 February 2008

Bloomberg – France Prepares Evacuation of Foreigners in Chad Amid Fighting – 2 February 2008

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

N’DJAMENA, Chad – Chadian rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby have made their way to the capital and are fighting government troops around the presidential palace.   The rebels closed in on the capital with their pickup trucks mounted with machine guns following battles against Deby’s troops on Friday northeast of the city.

There has been intense gunfire in the city and witnesses report that army tanks have been burning in the streets. The country’s foreign minister however has said the President is safe and that the situation is under control. French Defense Ministry spokesman Christophe Pazouk told the BBC that the rebels numbered in the thousands and that they had entered the city with surprising ease.

The French and US embassies had begun evacuation procedures however once the rebels entered the city the French mission told its citizens to stay at home under cover.  French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed the situation of France’s former colony with Deby and reinforced its military contingent on Friday. 

The rebels have said that if they take over they will impose transitional rule for two years before organizing free and fair elections.  Chad has had several coups since their independence from France in 1960.   

President Deby has been in power since 1990, and several years ago caused an outcry when he changed the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.   He has repeatedly been accused of corruption in the new oil sector, and recently there have been several defections from his clan-based inner circle to various rebel movements. 

Chad accuses the Sudanese government of aiding the rebels, claiming the rebels advanced from the war-torn Darfur region heavily armed.  Khartoum has repeatedly denied any such accusations.

Meanwhile, the African Union leaders meeting in Addis Ababa expressed concern over the situation in Chad which has led to a delayed deployment of European Union peacekeepers. 

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Chad rebels fight inside capital – 2 February 2008

Reuters – Rebels enter Chad’s capital, fight around palace – 2 February 2008

Reuters – France, US prepare to evacuate nationals from Chad – 2 February 2008

VOA News – Chadian Rebels, Government Forces Clash Inside Capital – 2 February 2008

Bloomberg – France Prepares Evacuation of Foreigners in Chad Amid Fighting – 2 February 2008