FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nathalie Losson, Executive Director
Phone: (410) 602-5359
Email: cfk@caringforkaela.org
The Government of Chad Authorizes an Independent Technical Assessment Mission to Speak with the Armed Opposition
WASHINGTON (23 March 2009): In an unprecedented step towards peace, the Government of Chad signed on March 23rd, 2009 an authorization letter for the creation of a Technical Assessment Team (T.A.T.) to speak with all parties concerned in the internal Chadian conflict (armed and un-armed) and evaluate the effectiveness of the various peace agreements currently in place in Chad. The team, not yet selected, will be composed of Chadian and International experts.
The signature of the document took place at the Embassy of Chad in D.C., in the presence of H.E. Ambassador Mahamoud Adam Bechir (seated), Dr. Djime Adoum (standing), Coordinator of the Independent Commission for an Inclusive Dialogue (CIDI) and Ms. Nathalie Losson, Executive Director of Caring for Kaela (CFK).
Plagued by years of conflict, Chad's current rebellion finds its genesis over concerns linked to governance and power sharing. The Libyan brokered Syrte agreement (October 2007) between the armed opposition and the Government of Chad (GOC) has shown little progress and the implementation of the August 13th 2007 electoral reform agreement between the political opposition and the GOC, facilitated by the European Union, is at a standstill amidst differences over the creation of a truly independent National Electoral Commission.
Track-II diplomatic efforts have sought to address a gap in the international community’s response to Chad’s internal political crisis.
Efforts made by organizations such as Caring for Kaela have gone a long way in raising the awareness of international stakeholders and laying the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive peace process. Seeking to empower Chadians to affect change within their own county, CFK’s work to build the capacity of Chadian organizations such as the CIDI to become full participants in the development of their country has shown some success.
Still a far cry from the “Inclusive Dialogue” demanded by most national actors, the Chadian Government’s approval of a Technical Assessment mission is the first stone on which the road to peace could be built.
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