11 men accused of mastering a coup d’etat in Chad have been sentenced to 20 years in prison following a statement by the attorney general in N’Djamena but hopes are still high that the presidency would pardon them.
In early January the government announced that 10 army officers and prominent rights campaigner Baradine Berdei Targuio had been arrested and accused of attempting to destabilize the constitutional order and the country’s institutions.
Berdei Targuio presented by the authorities as the ring leader of the December bid is the president of the Chadian Organisation for the Defence of Human Rights and a fierce critic of the ruling regime.
Meanwhile the 11 men are currently being detained in a high security prison if Koro Toro which is 600 kilometres north of the capital were they are serving 29 years in jail for violating constitutional order, illegal holding and associating with criminals.
On April 21, Chadian leader General Mahamat Idriss Debby vowed to free the men.
“ The president of Chad will keep his promise,”presidency spokesperson Brah Mahamat told AFP.
It’s noted Deby took power after his father Idriss Deby Itno who had ruled for close to 30 years died during an operation against the rebels in April 2021.
The young junta leader and transitional president promised to hold free elections within 18 months after taking power but the deadline has been extended on for more two years.
Mass protests were seen last year in October in demand to end the military rule though it was silenced and protesters arrested and later pardoned by Deby.
