March 2008 (PARIS): Inter-Chadian Debate

THEME: INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE
From Concept to Implementation

SUMMARY

At the initiative of Caring for Kaela, an Inter-Chadian debate was held March 29th and 30th, 2008 in Paris to address the concept of the Inclusive Dialogue. Caring for Kaela did not intervene in the work or discussions of the participants during the debate. Participants began the meeting by unanimously selecting Dr. Djimé Adoum to moderate the debate and Mahamat Ahmat Kebir to take minutes. Participants then elaborated their agenda and decided to focus on the following two items: 

1. Context of the national crisis
   Identification of the problems
2. Crisis exit strategy
   Identification of the solutions

Identification of the problems:

• Persistent social injustices beginning after Chad’s Independence;
• Absence of a common ideal and inexistence of a national point of reference (symbol or link) around which Chadians can identify themselves and as one Nation. The notion of a Chadian Nation was discussed and questioned;
• Existence of a social hierarchy before the coming of Chad’s colonial power which was followed by an orchestrated division of the population which resulted into today’s ethnocentrism and tribalism; 
• Is creating a western style democratic system in Chad truly the solution for Chadians? 
• Lack of confidence of the population vis-à-vis politics, the government and its opposition because of the tribalism and self-centeredness reflected in their behavior; 
• Discussion over the state of the labor movement in Chad; unequal distribution of wealth and restricted social and economic rights. 
• The solution to Chad’s problems must go through an imminent departure of the current Chadian President. Can we offer him something concrete? 
• Confiscation of the State’s assets by the Government. Non-transparent management of petroleum revenues. Confiscation of power. 
• Violation of multiple Peace agreements by President Déby (Syrte, Abbas Koty, Ketté Moïse, Laokem Barde, Bichara Digui, Youssouf Togoïmi, the Constitution…). The preceding agreements having failed to arrive at a proper implementation therefore brings into question the credibility of President Déby;
• Influence of the international community is helping to keep President Idriss Déby in power as Chad’s ruler; 
• Absence of a truly national army;
• President Déby’s only true concern is the armed opposition. The balance of power is not the same in front of the democratic political opposition or civil society and a dialogue with only civil society is almost utopist.

Question: What is the inclusive dialogue and what are we expecting from it? What are its objectives? Who must we invite? The conditions of the Inclusive Dialogue must be defined and the issue of balance of power must be addressed.

Participants studied and defined the concept of the inclusive dialogue by identifying 6 pre-conditions which could serve as the basis for the preparation for this dialogue and from which a strategic plan was designed.

Definition of the Inclusive Dialogue:

The objective of the inclusive dialogue is to bring together all parties involved in the conflict, all components of the crisis, and identify solutions to Chad’s problems. This would necessitate discussing the implementation of a transition to organize free and fair elections. The concept of the inclusive dialogue is defined by the 2 terms it is composed of:

• Dialogue: cease fire and come together around a table to discuss what works and does not work in Chad.
• Inclusive: implicate everyone. Avoid the risk of excluding people because they do not belong to a political party or an association. 
• Location: in a neutral country that has not interfered in the Chadian crisis. 
• Coordination: under the supervision of the African Union

Pre-conditions to resolve and actions to take to arrive at an inclusive dialogue

Six elements were identified that needed to be resolved before arriving at an inclusive dialogue in Chad. These elements emanate from 2 essential questions: Why does president Déby refuse to participate in an inclusive political dialogue? With President Déby in favor of separated agreements, how can Chadians possibly move towards an inclusive political dialogue?

1. Refusal of President Déby/lack of credibility

• A general mobilization and a collective pressure would force President Déby´s hand and help him accept an inclusive political dialogue so strongly desired by the majority of Chadians to get he country out of this dead end;
• Propose an honorable exit to President Déby;
• Approach and sensitize those close to the regime so that they can accept to negotiate with all representative groups (including the principal actors of the Chadian rebellion, civil society and other pressure groups in the country

2. Disappearance of Ibn Oumar Mahamat Saleh

• Creation of a new investigation commission that includes neutral and independent persons.

3. Cease fire

• Obtain concrete projects of political programs from the politico-military groups;
• Identify and harmonize common objectives to bring both conflict parties closer together;
• Get the National Alliance (AN) to take into consideration the demands of the political parties (CPDC) and other pressure groups in the country.

4. Participation of all components of the crisis

• Sensitize Chadians to the notion of sitting together amongst Chadians and talk;
• Target those that work behind the scenes;
• Publicize the exit strategy.

5. External support

• Lobby ex-heads of State and international stakeholders to put pressure on President Déby;
• Identify individuals with high integrity for each stakeholder to implement the exit strategy.

6. Non-existence of a national army

• Recruitment of soldiers on the basis of geo-political criteria to avoid having an army based on ethnicity and to arrive at a mixed army;
• Encourage those that want to reintegrate civil life;
• Reactivate national services and eliminate the presidential guard
• Reorganize the structure of the army and revise cooperation agreements from 1976;
• Disarm the civilian population.

A commission entitled « Commission Indépendante pour le Dialogue Inclusif » (CIDI) (the Independent Commission for an Inclusive Dialogue) was created (see list below) to coordinate the implementation of the goals identified during the debate. Based on a roadmap created by participants, the mission of the CIDI is as follow:

To work in all transparency to:

• Develop strategies to implement the exit strategy identified;
• Develop a communication and public campaign strategy ; 
• Create evaluation and monitoring tools; 
• Collect and analyze performance data on the results of the strategy and the effectiveness of the Commission.

Independent Commission for an Inclusive Dialogue (CIDI)

Coordinator: Dr. Djimé Adoum
Spokesperson: Mrs. Louise Bourkou

• Advisor in charge of missions to the political parties and civil society: Mr. Lyadish Ahmed
• Deputy Advisor in charge of missions to the political parties and civil society: Mr. Kebir Mahamat Ahmat
• Advisor in charge of missions to the politico-military forces: Mr. Bandjim Bandoum
• Deputy Advisor in charge of missions to the politico-military forces: Mr. Abdelmanane Khatab
• Deputy Advisor in charge of missions to the European Union: Mr. Mahamat Djibrine Haroun
• Advisor in charge of missions to Africa: Mr. Elhadj Bineye

For additional information on the CIDI, contact Dr. Djimé Adoum, Coordinator, at sahelien@hotmail.com