The transitional authorities in Chad said on Thursday that an “attempt at destabilization” was foiled by the internal security services. The aim was to “undermine the constitutional order and the institutions of the Republic”. Involved in the attempt are 11 army officers and a known human rights activist.
The plan was drawn up by a “small group of conspirators, made up of eleven army officers headed by Baradine Berdei Targuio, president of the Chadian Human Rights Organisation (Otdh),” the government said, adding that those involved had been arrested.
“The security services proceeded to the arrest on 8 December 2022 of these persons linked to this attempt to destabilise the institutions of the Republic and seized military and transmission equipment” belonging to this group of conspirators.
In addition, the defendants were interviewed on the basis of regular reports before being referred to the public prosecutor’s office in N’Djamena, the Chadian executive said. According to Chadian government spokesman Aziz Mahamat Saleh, “a judicial investigation has been opened against these people for undermining the constitutional order, criminal association, illegal possession of firearms and complicity.
“The investigating judge in charge of the case proceeded to charge them in accordance with the introductory indictment of the Public Prosecutor, placing them under a detention order,” the government said in a statement, adding that “the judicial procedure is taking its course and the government intends to shed full light on this case and to establish who is responsible.