“The following people have been designated members of the Conseil National de Transition (CNT),” according to the decree signed by General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, president of the Conseil Militaire de Transition (CMT).
The list comprises 93 names, according to quotas that had been determined in advance. The new CNT will be made up of at least 30% of the members of the outgoing National Assembly – which was dissolved when the army took power – 30% women and 30% youth.
When 37-year-old Itno proclaimed himself head of the CMT on 20 April, he promised that ‘free and transparent elections’ would be held within 18 months and that he would quickly assemble this inclusive CNT. The latter point has now been accomplished.
“Inclusive national dialogue”
Members of the former opposition – under the regime of the late president Déby Itno – as well as representatives from civil society and politico-military groups are part of the interim government. However, the radical opposition platform Wakit Tamma, which is still challenging the current government, will not be represented. The CNT “will act as a national assembly of transition” pending elections, according to a dossier distributed to the press on 24 September.
The CMT, which is headed by Itno and comprises 14 other generals, holds most of the executive power. However, on 11 May, it named former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacké, the last to hold this position under the late Itno, as interim premier.
In addition, the opening of the ‘inclusive national dialogue’ leading to general elections, whose organising committee was set up in mid-August, is expected in the coming weeks in N’Djamena. After a series of official trips that took him to Qatar, the United Nations General Assembly and the Republic of Congo, from where he returned on 26 September, the head of state is expected to accelerate the transition process.
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