Chad Pardons 380 Rebels

Interim President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby, has pardoned 380 prisoners from a prominent rebel group in a clear attempt to encourage their participation in peace talks. Déby was appointed president by the military in 2021 following the death of his father, Idriss Déby, on the battlefield during clashes with rebels from the Front for Change and Concord in Chad. Since then, Déby has conducted peace talks with several rebel groups that challenged his father's long-standing regime, but the Front for Change and Concord has not participated and has insisted that transitional authorities release its members. Déby announced a decree listing the names of the pardoned members of the front but did not provide a reason for the move. The document was dated yesterday, Friday, but was issued today, Saturday.