afrol News / IRIN, 8 June - Chadian President Idriss Déby has instructed his government to open a dialogue with the political opposition in a government decree released to journalists on this afternoon. Before the May presidential elections, President Déby had opposed any democratic reforms, causing the opposition to boycott the poll.

"This dialogue should deal with all the political questions that are dealt with by the institutions of the Republic, without jeopardising the democratic process," President Déby said, according to a text of the decree, which has also been broadcast on state radio and television.

There will be an "internal political dialogue, between Chadians, which will give Chadians the means and the political will to build their own country, while reinforcing the democratic experience," Déby added.

According to President Déby, "partners will be sought out to contribute financially, materially and intellectually," to the process.

The political situation has become increasingly tense in Chad following large scale defections from the armed forces, a series of strikes and an attempted coup in April.

A spokesperson for a coalition of opposition parties contacted by the UN media 'IRIN' said his group was not yet ready to respond, but was considering the proposal.

President Déby said that there would be no place for non-Chadians in the process, because "outsiders must not do what the Chadians must do, and can do."

The Chadian government has already put in place a team charged with preparing the dialogue with the political parties, according to government spokesperson. There would soon be a debate on the practical modalities of the political dialogue, the spokesperson added.

The decision is President Déby's first overture to the opposition, since holding presidential elections on 3 May in the face of a boycott by a united Chadian opposition, and appeals for a postponement by the international community.

Since rumours began in 2004 that President Déby was planning to change the constitution to run for a third presidential term, the political situation in Chad has been extremely fragile. Mr Déby came to power in 1990 in a coup but has since been elected in several controversial polls.

Discontent over President Déby's maintaining power led to the creation of an armed rebellion, which on 13 April this year launched an attack on the capital N'djamena. Only with French military aid, loyalist troops managed to stop the rebels' advances on the capital.

Against this backdrop, President Déby nonetheless went ahead with elections on 3 May. He was subsequently declared victor with over 67 percent of the vote. While the opposition and the foreign press reported of an extremely low voters' turnout at polling stations, the government reported a majority turnout.

By UN media IRIN

© afrol News / IRIN

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