The Council of the Military Command for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR) has suspended its participation in the preparatory talks for the national dialogue due to start in May in the Chadian capital.
“We regret the CCMSR’s decision to suspend its participation in the pre-dialogue,” Foreign Minister Cherif Mahamat Zene tweeted, adding that “it is early to draw conclusions from the process before we have a summary from the mediator.”
This withdrawal less than a month before the start of the national dialogue will not impact the already established schedule. “The pre-dialogue will follow its course (in Qatar since March 13, 2022) and the doors remain open to all and at any time,” assured Zene.
In a statement released Thursday, the CCMSR accused the ruling junta of undertaking “actions that hint at a hidden agenda with bad intentions. The rebel movement cited as proof the invitation to Doha of “fake opponents who are in reality elements of the regime, in order to drown out the voice of the real military groups and impose an agreement to their advantage.”
The armed group also blamed the government for violating the truce on the ground and for its unclear position on the non-participation of members of the transitional government in the upcoming elections.
For CCMSR leaders, this reflects the “deceit” of the strongmen in N’djamena who are trying “to trap them.” It now demands clarification and guarantees to return to the negotiating table.
The Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic is the second rebellion to withdraw from the Doha talks after the departure of the Front for Change and Concord (FACT) at the very beginning of the negotiations.
