N'Djamena - (AFP) - The comprehensive national dialogue, which has been postponed several times, between the civilian and armed opposition and the ruling military junta in Chad , begins on Saturday and will last for three weeks, with the aim of "turning the page" on the transitional period and reaching "free and democratic elections".

Muhammad Idriss Deby Itno, who assumed power in April 2021 at the head of the Transitional Military Council after the death of his father, Idriss Deby, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 30 years, promised to organize a dialogue with the opposition to reach the return of power to civilians within an 18-month renewable period. Once.

Will meet about 1400 delegates representing trade unions and political parties and the Transitional Military Council for a period of 21 days in the Palace of January 15 in the heart of the capital, N'Djamena, in order to discuss reform of institutions and the development of a new constitution that is supposed to be put to a vote in a referendum. Issues of peace and fundamental freedoms will also be discussed.

The delegates will meet in various committees.

Saleh Kabzabo, first vice-chairman of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Organizing Committee, told Agence France-Presse that "Mohamed Idriss Deby is scheduled to deliver an introductory speech at about ten o'clock, and the work of the dialogue will begin on Sunday or Monday."

"The delegates will not all come from the beginning because some of them will come from inside the country," added the former presidential candidate and opponent of Idriss Deby.

Chadian African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat will deliver a speech at the opening of the dialogue.

This "comprehensive national warm", which was initially scheduled for February before being postponed several times, opens less than two weeks after the signing of an agreement in Doha between the Chadian military council and some forty rebel groups.

This agreement, signed on August 8 and concluded with a number of armed groups that have fought the Idriss Deby regime for years, stipulates, in particular, a "ceasefire". This allowed the rebels to participate in the dialogue.

"We signed this agreement to rebuild Chad," said Timan Erdimi, leader of the Union of Resistance Forces, who returned Thursday to N'Djamena after years of exile to take part in the dialogue. The same position was expressed by Muhammad Nuri, leader of the "Union of Forces for Democracy and Development" movement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated Chad on this dialogue, which he saw as a "historic opportunity to lay new foundations for stability" in the country.

Chad, which became independent from France since 1960, witnessed a number of coups and coup attempts. "This dialogue should allow us to put the use of arms behind us once and for all," said government spokesman Abd al-Rahman Kalamullah.

A decree signed on Wednesday by the head of the military council, Mohamed Idriss Deby, stipulates that the "comprehensive national dialogue" will be "sovereign" and its decisions will be "executive".

The decree stipulates that "the head of the Transitional Military Council, the President of the Republic, the Head of State, is the guarantor" of the dialogue.

The Front for Balance and Accord in Chad, one of the major rebel movements behind the attack that killed Idriss Deby, did not sign the Doha agreement and would not participate in the dialogue, considering it "pre-biased".

The coalition of opposition parties and members of civil society "Wakt Tama" also refused to participate in the dialogue, accusing the military council of perpetuating "human rights violations" and preparing for General Deby's candidacy for the presidency, even though he pledged at the beginning of the transitional period not to run.

The selection of delegates also drew sharp criticism. "We believe that 80 percent of the delegates are close to the junta," said Soxeh Masara, leader of the "Transformers" party, which is part of the "Wakt Tama" coalition.

Mohamed Idriss Deby was forced to make pledges to the international community, promising to return power to civilians within 18 months and not to run for the next elections.

However, in June 2021, it seemed that he was reneging on his promises when he said that an extension of the 18-month transition period was possible, referring to the surrender of "his command to God" regarding his possible candidacy for the presidency.