Chad’s president Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, is the subject of a preliminary investigation in France on suspicion of embezzlement of public funds.
Since the revelation in early July of the opening of a preliminary investigation by the French Financial Prosecutor against the Chadian leader, his political world has been in turmoil. His supporters denounced a relentless attack on his integrity.
For the time being, neither the presidency nor the government has commented on the affair, but the issue has been raised in the National Transitional Council (CNT), a body that acts as a parliament.
At the opening of the 2nd extraordinary session of this institution, its first vice-president, Ali Kolotou Tchaimi, denounced “an investigation aimed at tarnishing Chad’s image and reputation on the international scene.”
“CNT strongly condemns this cowardly accusation, which discredits not only the Head of State, but above all the sovereignty of our country and the Chadian people, who have just given the President of the Republic a large majority of their votes,” Ali Kolotou Tchaimi responded.
Faced with this accusation, “the National Transitional Council offers its unwavering support to the President of the Republic and expresses its full solidarity and sympathy,” the body assured Deby and his government.
In December 2023, an investigation by Médiapart revealed that the Chadian head of state had purchased several luxury suits and shirts from a French couturier all worth more than 915,000 euros, or over 600 million CFA francs.
In April 2024, the defendant expressed his views on the affair in his autobiographical work “De Bedouin à president” (From Bedouin to President). He described the affair as “a symbol of political manipulation”.
Deby acknowledged receiving the suits from his former advisor, Abakar Manany, but denied ordering or buying them.
“I wore them two or three times in total, without knowing how Manany had bought them or which company he had negotiated to pay the bill. I didn’t know, I was presented with a fait accompli,” he wrote on page 130 of his book.
CA/te/lb/as/APA