How Chad managed to avoid sanctions

Friday, November 11, Chad was not sanctioned by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, contrary to the recommendations made by Moussa Faki.

It is a real snub for Moussa Faki, the President of the Commission of the African Union (AU). Last Friday, the report drafted by the latter was presented to the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC). In this eight-page document, Moussa Faki castigated Chadian power and the extension of the transition period decided by Mahamat Idriss Déby. He also denounced the violence that followed this announcement.

But Moussa Faki, who hoped to obtain sanctions against his country, knew that he would have difficulty counting on certain countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). In particular two member countries of ECCAS and the CPS: Congo Brazzaville and Burundi.

If, three weeks ago, the transition in Chad had been on the menu of discussions at an ECCAS summit, chaired by Félix Tshisekedi, according to our information, the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou N'Guesso would have refused, in recent days, to receive Moussa Faki despite his insistence. What suggest, on the part of the Republic of Congo, a vote against the proposals of the President of the AU Commission.

Nigeria leads the defense of Chad

And indeed, the Congo has lined up behind several other countries which have refused to issue sanctions against Chad: Nigeria, Senegal, Gambia, Ghana, Tanzania, Djibouti, Burundi, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia also preferred to position themselves on the same line.

In the end, on Friday, Moussa Faki suffered a real setback. Apart from South Africa, which preferred to abstain from voting on sanctions, barely three countries followed Faki's recommendations: Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. A defeat for Moussa Faki against Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.

Contrary to the recommendations of Moussa Faki's report, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, will indeed facilitate the transition process in Chad, as was decided on October 25 by the CEAAC.

But the chairman of the AU Commission is not determined to let it go. He requested that Chad be again on the agenda of an upcoming PSC meeting. Which was accepted by the Peace and Security Council. However, on the side of N'Djamena, lobbying continues to avoid sanctions from the AU.