Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Attn: Media & Press

Contact: Armel Ramadji Doumnande, Gore Mbaitoloum

Phone: 585-978-1678, 202-486-1464,

E-mail: pr@chadiandiaspora.org

Chadian Diaspora to Stage Protest at French Embassy

Chadian Expatriates Hold Event to Protest French Political Complicity in Chad

Washington D.C., April 21, 2006:  On April 28, 2006, Chadian Diaspora USA will hold a demonstration in front of the French Embassy, located at 4101 Reservoir Road N.W., Washington, DC 20007.  The event will run from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST.

The event has been organized specifically to demand an end to the complicity of the French government in supporting the regime of Chad’s current president Idriss Deby.  We ask them to end neo-colonial policies and interventions that support French interests rather than considering the humanitarian situation in Chad.  As Dr. Adoum, founding member of Chadian Diaspora, explains “French interference in Chadian politics must end.  Our actions are about the establishment of the rule of law, transparency and accountability in the extent to which they are conducting business in Chad.  They need to respect the will of the Chadian people who aspire to liberty, economic opportunities and the freedom to choose candidates likely to satisfy their needs based on good governance, human rights and dignity. 

President Idriss Deby Itno overthrew Hissene Habre in a military coup December 1990. He has been in power since then and “won” controversial elections twice.  Last year, he orchestrated a modification of the Chadian constitution in order to run for a third time at the end of his current mandate when it expires in May 2006.  This modification did not sit well with the majority of Chadians, who fear that if he is not stopped, he will convert the presidency into a life term.  His regime is currently under extreme pressure from various political forces, and many military officers have deserted to join an armed opposition as of December 2005.  In Deby’s struggle to maintain power, he has manipulated the situation in Darfur, using it to distract international attention from his own difficulties.

In preparation of this demonstration, Chadian Diaspora has declared the week of April 23 to April 29 a week of mourning.  All Chadian expatriates in the United States are requested to dress in black as a sign of their mourning for the events currently taking place in their country as well as to make others aware of the seriousness of the situation. 

For more information, please visit our website at http://chadiandiaspora.blogspot.com  or contact Armel Ramadji Doumnande at (585) 978-1678 or Gore Mbaitoloum at (202) 486-1464.

Also, our e-mail address is pr@chadiandiaspora.org

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