CAIRO — On Jan. 5, Mahamat ibn Idriss Deby Itno, head of Chad’s Transitional Army Council, arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The go to raised questions on its motives and implications in addition to the character of Egypt’s role in Chad.
Deby wrote on Twitter, “This official go to falls inside the dynamic framework of consolidating our bilateral cooperation, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and friendship, and exploring new horizons for partnership.”
The Chadian presidency tweeted, “Chad and Egypt are strengthening ties, as cooperation and friendship have been well-established for a very long time,” noting that the go to was meant to strengthen cooperation and solidify the friendship with Cairo.
The go to lasted for 2 days. Deby first met with Sisi, and the 2 mentioned methods to advance bilateral cooperation between the 2 nations, particularly by reactivating the joint bilateral committee, a Jan. 5 assertion by Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady stated.
Sisi reportedly burdened Egypt’s keenness to supply full assist to Chad throughout the present transitional part. “Cairo is fascinated about persevering with cooperation between the 2 nations for the event and refinement of Chadian cadres in numerous disciplines.”
He additionally spoke of cooperation to “maximize safety, intelligence and army cooperation to fight the problem of terrorism and extremist ideology,” in line with the Egyptian assertion.
In the meantime, Deby praised the shut relations between the 2 brotherly nations, stressing his nation’s keenness to activate and develop bilateral cooperation with Egypt.
On this context, Ahmed al-Maslamani, a former adviser to Sisi, instructed Al-Monitor that the go to is an “wonderful step and a reassuring growth in Egyptian-Chadian relations,” including that Deby requested cooperation on all ranges however particularly when it comes to safety and intelligence as a result of the 2 nations have widespread enemies: terrorism and poverty.
He famous that Egypt is in search of to strengthen its relations with Deby, particularly because the present transitional interval is establishing the following authorities in Chad.
“Chad impacts Egyptian nationwide safety, and Cairo believes in N’Djamena’s important position in combating terrorism and curbing the exercise of extremist armed teams in Africa, starting with Boko Haram on the Atlantic Ocean, by Mali and the Lake Chad area, all the best way to the Islamic State in Somalia on the Indian Ocean,” Maslamani defined.
Egypt’s coverage towards Africa has modified since Sisi got here to energy in 2014. It turned pushed by bettering its picture and defending its pursuits within the Horn of Africa to strengthen its place on the difficulty of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Nonetheless, within the Sahel-Saharan area, it has targeted on enhancing security and intelligence cooperation and presenting itself as a mannequin for combating terrorism.
That’s the reason the sudden loss of life of Idriss Deby — the daddy — in April 2021 because of accidents he sustained in his battle with rebels raised Cairo’s concerns and fears since he was a detailed ally of Egypt.
Deby has since seized energy and pledged to carry free and democratic elections on the conclusion of an 18-month transitional interval. In the meantime, he appears to be following in his father’s footsteps in consolidating his relationship with Sisi.
Chadian journalist and political analyst Jebren Issa instructed Al-Monitor, “It’s clear that Deby seeks Cairo’s assist if he’s to run within the upcoming elections.”
He added, “Deby views Egypt as a pivotal participant in Chad’s stability, attributable to its political and financial affect in Africa and the Arab world and the influence of Egyptian coverage on Chad’s neighboring nations corresponding to Sudan and Libya.”
Roland Lombardi, a historian specializing within the Center East (particularly Egypt) and an impartial geopolitical marketing consultant related to the JFC Conseil evaluation group, stated this was an important go to for the Chadian chief. “This reveals initially Sisi’s more and more rising diplomatic position, as he has turn out to be important as a number one actor, mediator, middleman, even peacemaker in lots of points within the Center East (i.e., the Abraham Accords, the Israeli-Palestinian battle specifically in Gaza and even in Syria) in addition to in Africa (i.e., Sudan and Chad).”
He added, “Sisi has succeeded in restoring Egypt’s highly effective place on the worldwide scene.”
Deby’s go to to Cairo got here just a few days after he introduced an “inclusive nationwide dialogue” scheduled for Feb. 15 to realize reconciliation in his nation and pave the best way for presidential and legislative elections.
In August 2021, Deby fashioned a particular technical committee of political figures to dialogue with political and army actions. In November 2021, he ordered amnesty for lots of of political opponents so they might partake within the nationwide dialogue course of.
Deby allowed opposition events to carry conferences together with the transitional authorities’s persevering with to carry conferences to advertise the upcoming dialogue and encourage participation in it.
In a speech to the folks on the event of the New Yr on Dec. 31, Deby stated that the upcoming dialogue could be a “sovereign dialogue with out taboos” and every little thing that he concludes could be “totally applied.” On the finish of this dialogue, “a brand new structure can be accepted by a referendum, and clear, free, democratic and credible normal elections can be organized.”
Issa famous that the Chadian transitional authorities desires Sisi to mediate as a way to urge armed actions and events in exile to barter with the transitional authorities on the nationwide dialogue convention that can be hosted by Doha in February.
He identified that the Togo Alliance, essentially the most hard-line wing of the opposition, nonetheless refuses to take part within the nationwide dialogue, saying that the upcoming convention can be a failure.
“Egypt has a powerful presence in Libya and Sudan and will take motion to … contribute to the success of Chadian reconciliation in cooperation with the Qatari authorities, particularly after ties between Cairo and Doha enhance,” Issa stated.
Lombardi famous, “Regardless of the alliance of a number of insurgent actions, Deby nonetheless managed to impose a type of dialogue for the democratic transition.”
He added, “The rebels are weakened as a result of their principal supporters (Turkey and Qatar) are extra remoted and face nice financial problem. That is significantly true for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who has been pressured in current months to place a cease to his inclinations in Africa, the Mediterranean [and] the Center East.”
Lombardi added, “The Inclusive Nationwide Dialogue can thus succeed since Deby’s enemies can be pressured to make concessions and even compromises. Above all, as soon as once more and discreetly, Cairo is a stakeholder within the ongoing discussions.”
Talking about Deby’s future, he stated, “He has the need and the power to manage the nation. However he should not fall into the pitfalls that African leaders fell for previously. Exactly, he should be impressed by Sisi’s rule, which doesn’t rely fully on brute pressure as some say.”
Lombardi burdened, “Like Sisi and even Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, who understood the issue of their respective nations, Deby should modernize the economic system of his nation and particularly battle corruption.”
