They have however refused to use it as a "pretext for prolonging" the transition, according to a statement from the armed groups sent to AFP on Wednesday. A few days after taking power in April 2021, the junta, led by Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, son of former president Idriss Déby, announced that the 18-month transition period could be extended once. The armed groups also demanded "the involvement of all political actors to agree on a new date". This "Doha pre-dialogue", open to some fifty armed groups, promised for many months and initially scheduled for 27 February, was postponed at the last minute to 13 March. Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was appointed to head a Transitional Military Council (TMC) composed of 15 generals, following the announcement on 20 April 2021 of the death of his father, Marshal Idriss Déby, killed at the front against rebels, after having ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years.

Source: Ethiopian News May 05, 2022 19:25 UTC