Chadian military council names new Prime Minister

The former Prime Minister, Albert Pahimi Padacke, who came second in the April 11 presidential election, has been named the Prime Minister of the Transitional government.

This statement was made on Monday and confirmed by the Chadian ruling military council,

A week after President Idriss Deby’s battlefield death- an appointment quickly made and dismissed by an opposition leader. The military council seized power after Deby was killed as he visited troops fighting rebels on April 19. Opposition politicians have called the military takeover a coup, and one said on Monday the army had no right to pick a premier.

The transition and the wrangling around it are being closely watched in a country that is a key power in central Africa and a longtime Western ally against Islamist militants across the Sahel.

The military council headed by Deby’s son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has said it will oversee an 18-month transition to elections.

But it is coming under international pressure to hand over power to civilians as soon as possible. The African Union has expressed “grave concern” about the military takeover, while France and regional powers are pushing for a civilian-military solution.

Padacke served as prime minister from 2016 to 2018 and was seen as one of Deby’s allies, despite running against him several times. He came second with 10.3% of the vote in an April 11 election. Deby was declared the winner right before he was killed.

Yacine Abderamane, president of the opposition Reformist Party, told Reuters he would not accept Padacke’s nomination.

“It is not up to the transitional military council to designate a prime minister in this isolated manner. We want there to be talks between political parties, civil society and other actors in order to reach a consensus,” he said.

Suzan O/AFP