President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the international community to support Chad’s transition to democratic government within the set time of eighteen months.
He made the call at the opening of the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) convened to discuss the recent developments in Chad.
President Buhari while declaring one-day summit open as the Chair of leaders of LCBC member-countries urged development partners and other counntries and regional bloc to support the transition framework put in place by Chad’s Transition Military Council led by General Mahamat Idris Deby.
He said the transition period should be civilian-led, with requisite powers given to the constitutionally mandated organs of government saddled with the responsibility of administering the country.
President Buhari maintained that the threats by the Chadian rebel groups, who are clamouring to overthrow the government, must be treated with seriousness as the consequences of a destabilized Chad to the sub-region cannot be imagined.
He stated that the flow of refugees and displaced persons from the country, unrestrained flow of arms, drugs and other harmful substances into Lake Chad and Sahel Regions, which are already challenged by terrorists seeking to establish parallel systems, would further compound the security and stability of West Africa and neighbouring countries.
President Buhari also used the occasion to commend the tireless efforts of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Multinational Joint Task Force, member countries’ National Armed Forces and Security and Intelligence Agencies who daily strive to ensure the complete restoration of peace and stability in the region.
On the request of President Buhari and in recognition of the immense and sterling contributions of the late President of Chad to peace and stability in the region, the Summit observed a minute silence for the departed leader, Idriss Deby.
Bello Wakili
