Chad: Civil Society Organizations and Political Parties Call for “Dead City”

Political parties, civil society organizations, movements, and the Coalition of Citizen Actions Wakit Tama have issued a joint statement calling for a general strike on Monday, February 26, 2024 to demand the government to repeal the decree on the increase in fuel prices.

Launched by the Movement “We the People”, the call for a “general strike” has received the support of several movements, political parties, civil societies, and unions. They all urge for the respect of the strike action on Monday, February 26.

According to Yaya Dillo Djerou Betchi, coordinator of the Credible Opposition Federation, the socio-economic situation in Chad is getting worse and becoming unsustainable. “The Movement ‘We the People’ has called for a general strike next Monday. We are gathered here to ask the Chadian people to observe this general strike severely in order to send a strong message to the junta to tell them that we will not allow ourselves to be trampled by a group of malicious, power-hungry individuals who want to bring us back to a level of slavery,” said Yaya Dillo Djerou. “Starting on Monday, transporters, clandestine operators, motorcyclists, traders, and shopkeepers must halt their activities to show that they are ready to save Chad,” he added.

According to Soumaine Adoum, coordinator of the Coalition of Citizen Actions Wakit Tamma, it takes an irresponsible government to make such a decision. “We call on Chadians to respect the strike action called by the Movement ‘We the People’,” he said.

For the coordinator of the movement “We the People,” Moussey Avenir de la Tchiré, beyond the high cost of living, there is maladministration and the struggle must be common because there are positions that trample on the people’s freedom. “We cannot let all of this go,” he emphasized.

The organizations and political parties calling for the “general strike” are the Movement “We the People” of Moussey Avenir de la Tchiré; Wakit Tamma, of Soumaine Adoum; the Credible Opposition Federation of Yaya Dillo Djerou; the Union for the Refoundation of Chad of Abdelkerim Haggar, Pan-African Movements, and many others.

Nguelsou Balgamma