In Chad, the president of the transition Mahamat Idriss Déby signed on Saturday March 25 a presidential pardon in favor of 380 of the more than 400 rebels of the Fact (Front for alternation and concord) condemned last Tuesday. The rebels had been sentenced to life imprisonment for acts of terrorism, undermining national security and undermining the life of the Head of State.
They were arrested after the death of ex-president Idriss Déby in 2021. Their lawyer, Me Francis Lokouldé, welcomes this decision. “ We can only welcome this decision taken by the president of the transition. So that’s a sigh of relief. We believe this is a big step, except that we want to point out that this is not a pardon that concerns everyone, because there are only 380 defendants who are pardoned “says the lawyer.
►Also read : Chad: more than 400 Fact rebels sentenced to life imprisonment
Me Francis Lokouldé would have liked it to touch everyone. Fifty-five condemned, including the head of Fact, Mahamat Mahdi Ali, are not affected by this presidential pardon. “ Mahamat Mahdi and his suite are not affected by this measure. All those who are convicted in absentia are not affected by this presidential pardon, he specifies. It is difficult to understand because there, if the presidential pardon had to be taken against all the accused, it could have been better. However, there is sorting work that has been done. »
The lawyer adds : “ We would like all those convicted in this trial to be pardoned. So if so much is that this is a government helping hand policy, we want it to be general. »
Release of prisoners of war
For its part, the Chadian government explains that the initial commitment of the Head of State was the release of prisoners of war. And therefore that people convicted in absentia, including Mahamat Mahdi Ali, cannot be affected by this pardon.
“ The pledge before the solemn people was the release of prisoners of war. Persons tried in absentia are not prisoners of war. These discussions and these debates to return to peace are always open, and the hand remains outstretched. The Head of State shows by this act that he places himself above the fray and that he wants to act for peace and the definitive reconciliation of Chad. “, explains Aziz Mahamat Saleh, government spokesman and Minister of Communication.
Immediately after this conviction, Mahamat Idriss Déby thought it was time to do this act, moreover at an important time for the country, with this period of forgiveness that this period of Ramadan also calls. It is, in my opinion, a strong act, an act which has a rather important symbolism for the Chadian nation, to really allow to be able to rebuild on new bases “, assures the spokesperson of the government.