2007 in Chad

Events from the year 2007 in Chad.

Events

* January 3 - During a demonstration in the capital led by wounded soldiers demanding better medical care, the security forces open fire on the demonstrators killing at least one person. [" [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&set_id=1&art_id=qw1167856922572B236 Army men open fire on wounded soldiers] ", Reuters (Independent online), 4-1-2007.]
* January 5 - During a visit to Chad by the Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the People's Republic of China and Chad sign a series of loan, debt relief and economic cooperation accords worth $80 million, of which $32 million in debt relief and $26 as an agevolated debt loan. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL0557853220070105 China signs deals worth $80 mln with new ally Chad] ", Reuters, 5-1-2007.]
* January 6 - President Idriss Déby was present at the ceremony in which 200 rebels joined the army in Goz Beida, which stemmed from a ceasefire among government and rebels signed on December 24, 2006. [" [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/06/africa/AF-GEN-Chad-Rebels.php 200 rebels defect to join Chadian army, rebel leaders say] ", "International Herald Tribune", 6-1-2007.]
* January 10 - The United Nations Security Council decides following a meeting on the ongoing conflicts in Chad, Darfur and the Central African Republic to send a new technical assessment mission to Chad and the Central African Republic so to estabilish the chances of deploying a UN peace mission there. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=64339 UN Security Council pursues UN force option] ", IRIN News, 10-1-2007.]
* January 13 - Mahamat Nouri's Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) rebels occupy briefly the town of Ounianga Kébir in the BET Region. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6260049.stm Disputes over Chad rebel attack] ", BBC News, 13-1-2007.] [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWFiles2007.nsf/FilesByRWDocUnidFilename/F8401625F7E1FE6C8525728B0070D5E5-Full_Report.pdf/$File/Full_Report.pdf] ]
* January 15 - Chad lodges a formal protest to Sudan, complaining that the Sudanese Air Force flew over army's positions in eastern Chad. [" [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15374276.htm Chad protests to Sudan over military flights] ", Reuters (alertnet.org), 15-1-2007.]
* January 17 - The rebel militias Rally of Democratic Forces (RAFD) and UFDD capture, following a joint attack, the town of Ade in Ouaddaï Region.
* January 24 - The Air West Flight 612 flying from Khartoum to El Fasher is hijacked by a lone gunman and diverted to N'Djamena, where the hijacker surrenders. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6293649.stm Chad arrests Sudan plane hijacker] ", BBC News, 24-1-2007]
* January 24 - Following aerial attacks the Chadian army retakes Ade.
* January 28 - Ethnic Zaghawa militias raid in Dar Tama a group of Tama villages between Am Zoer and Biltine, killing seven Tama and burning 200 homes.http://hrw.org/reports/2007/chad0707/chad0707web.pdf]
* January 29 - A unit of United Front for Democratic Change (FUC) Tama militians (which has recently made peace with the Chadian government) is ambushed by Zaghawa SCUD rebels southeast of Guéréda, causing the death of 20 civilians and 31 FUC militians.
* January 31 - Security forces members arrest Marcel Ngargoto, secretary-general of the human rights organization "Association des Droits de l'Homme sans Frontières" (DHSF) and a journalist for the community radio station Radio Brokass. He is accused of "ruthless handling of sensitive news which could harm national cohesion" for having criticized the Moissala police chief. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2007/100473.htm "Chad"] . Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007, March 11, 2008. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State.] [AI, [http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/aidoc/ai.nsf/a85f4dc8381ecc7b80256f33003ae7b3/d85831f786d7ff9d8025727b0058dfb3!OpenDocument Chad: Detention without charge/ill-treatment/prisoner of conscience: Marcel Ngargoto] , Press release, February 8, 2007.] [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=25407 "Chad - Annual Report 2008"] , "Freedom of the press worldwide in 2008", Reporters without Borders, 2008.]
* February 1 - UFDD rebels attack violently Adré in Ouaddaï but were unable to take the town. At least a dozen civilians are reported killed, and about 40 wounded.Betel Miarom, " [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=68&set_id=1&art_id=qw1170335702567B236 Chad Rebels Attack Border Town, Government Blames Sudan] ", Reuters (Independent online), 1-2-2007] [" [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/UNHCR/42a73443b514a34a1c0acaf4e6f126b0.htm Rampant insecurity wreaking havoc on humanitarian activities] ", UNHCR (alertnet.org), 2-2-2007.]
* February 15 - Aid agency Oxfam intervenes warning that Chad may become "another Darfur" if measures are not taken to contain the ethnic conflict in the country. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6362597.stm Disaster threat hangs over Chad] ", BBC News, 15-2-2007.]
* February 16 - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees releases a statement in which it warns that a new genocide on the scale of that in Rwanda in 1994 may take place in Chad, where killing tactics similar to those in Darfur have already been established. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6367545.stm Chad may face genocide, UN warns] ", BBC News, 16-2-2007.]
* February 21 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon puts before the Security Council two alternative plans for the deployment in Chad and the Central African Republic either 6,000 or 11,000 peacekeeping troops. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6381353.stm UN chief suggests Chad, CAR force] ", BBC News, 21-2-2007.]
* February 21 - In Tripoli, under Libyan pressure Chadian and Sudanese Presidents agree to increase efforts to end violence spilling over the border from Darfur. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL21230426 Sudan and Chad agree to bolster peace deal] ", Reuters, 21-2-2007.]
* February 23 - Following the death of Pascal Yoadimnadji, Infrastructure Minister Adoum Younousmi assumes the interim as Prime Minister of Chad.Betel Miarom, " [http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL235695620070223 Chad PM dies in Paris from brain haemorrhage] ", Reuters, 23-2-2007.]
* February 28 - The Chadian government announces it will not accept a peacekeeping force on its territory and will only accept a civilian police. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70480 Gov't wants police not troops] ", IRIN News, 1-3-2007.] [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6405543.stm Chad rejects a UN military force] ", BBC News, 28-2-2007]
* March 5 - Former FUC insurgent leader Mohammed Nour Abdelkerim is nominated Defence Minister. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6418743.stm Chad ex-rebel leader gets top job] ", BBC News, 5-3-2007.]
* March 22 - The UNHCR warns that an estimated 36,000 Chadians have fled fled the war in Chad by searching refuge in Darfur, despite the humanitarian crisis there. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=70869 Thousands of Chadian refugees flee to Darfur] ", IRIN News, 22-3-2007.]
* March 22 - The Chadian government accuses the Sudanese Air Force of bombing the towns of Tenay and Bahaï, an area where Darfur rebels are known to operate. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6484007.stm Sudan 'in Chadian bombing raid'] ", BBC News, 23-3-2007]
* March 31 - The government accuses Sudanese Janjaweed of attacking the villages of Tiero and Marena in eastern Chad, killing hundreds and displacing 9,000 civilians, in what the UNHCR judges the worst attacks in the region it the last six months. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71168 Thousands more displaced in Chad, government says] ", IRIN News, 3-4-2007.] [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=71190 Fear of reprisal attacks] ", IRIN News, 4-4-2007.]
* April 6 - In retaliation to the attack on Tiero and Marena Chadian forces supported by helicopters, attacking rebel positions close to the Sudanese border. [Betel Miarom, " [http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL06510623._CH_.2400Chad says air,land forces attack rebels near Sudan] ", Reuters, 6-4-2007.]
* April 9 - Chadian troops clash with Sudanese forces inside Darfur, whose violence was called by UNHCR official in the area "apocalyptic". [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6542045.stm Chad admits battle inside Sudan] ", BBC News, 10-4-2007.]
* April 13 - The former Chadian President Goukouni Oueddei is received in Libreville by the Gabonese President Omar Bongo, pleading the latter to act as a mediator in the Chadian crisis. ["L'ex-président Goukouni Wedeye sollicite la médiation de Bongo Ondimba dans la crise tchadienne", Xinhua, April 14, 2007.fr icon]
* April 14 - Following the Chadian-Sudanese army clash in Sudan, Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-Mi meets Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in an attempt to defuse tensions, but he also insists that the Sudanese government is supporting Chadian rebels and the Janjaweed. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL14491521._CH_.2400 Chad says wants peace with Sudan but will hit rebels] ", Reuters, 14-4-2007.]
* April 17 - In a meeting held in Libreville, Gabon, former Chadian President Goukouni Oueddei sees Idriss Déby and offers his disponibility to meet the rebels and act as a mediator. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL18455113 Chad ex-president offers to talk peace with rebels] ", Reuters, 18-4-2007.]
* May 2 - Chad's 32,000 civil servants begin a monthes-long strike affecting schools and hospitals, and asking the government to increase their wage through the use of the oil revenues." [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72526 Month two of general strike threatens people more than government] ", IRIN News, 4-6-2007.]
* May 3 - The Chadian and Sudanese presidents sign an accord in Saudi Arabia to not support each other's rebels and to create a joint border force, collaborating with the United Nation's plan to deploy 11,000 men in eastern Chad so to stabilise the region. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6621063.stm Sudan and Chad agree border force] ", BBC News, 3-5-2007.]
* May 9 - The Chadian government signs an accord with Unicef for the demobilisation of child soldiers from its armed forces. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6640351.stm Chad demobilises child soldiers] ", BBC News, 9-5-2007]
* May 19 - Journalist and human rights activist Marcel Ngargoto is released from detention, in which he has been since January 31, after having subjected himself to a hunger strike.
* May 25 - Chadian government raises the state of emergency proclaimed six monthes earlier. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=72384 State of emergency ends but troubles continue] ", IRIN News, 25-5-2007.]
* May 25 - Following an aggression against its personnel in Iriba, the United Nations World Food Programme suspends operations in the area of the attack. [Stephanie Hancock, " [http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL25351773._CH_.2400 WFP suspends work around Chad town after attack] ", Reuters, 25-5-2007.]
* May 31 - The government offers a 15% wage increase to put an end to the civil service strike began on May 2, but the offer is declined as judged insufficient by union leaders.
* June 5 - Chadian Prime Minister Delwa Kassiré Koumakoye rejects the French idea of creating a humanitarian corridor across Chadian territory to bring aid to Darfur. [Betel Miarom, " [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL05196249 Chad rebuffs French idea for Darfur aid corridor] ", Reuters, 5-6-2007.]
* June 8 - Aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which has undertook a survey among internally displaced Chadians, reports in a press release that four children under five are dying per 10,000 every day, double the rate that signals an emergency according to WHO thresholds. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73223 Aid groups dispute extent of emergency in the east] ", IRIN News, 12-7-2007.]
* June 9 - President Idriss Déby opens to the possibility of a military international force in Chad, which he had previously resisted. [Betel Miarom, " [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10216984.htm Chad opens door to possible foreign military force] ", Reuters (alertnet.org), 10-6-2007.]
* June 23 - A Chadian government delegation led by the interim Prime Minister Adoum Younousmi and the main rebel groups meet in Tripoli so to start to a series of peace talks sponsored by the Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL22808905 Chad government, rebels hold Tripoli peace talks] ", Reuters, 22-6-2007.]
* July 2 - A spokesman for the rebel Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD), announces that if the talks being kept in Libya failed, there would be a return to all-out war. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSL02113583._CH_.2400 Chad rebels warn of return to war if Libya talks fail] ", Reuters, 2-7-2007.]
* July 20 - The Chadian government dissolves a committee that managed a share of oil income, claiming mismanadgement and corruption. The Committee was encharged with allocating 5% of the countries annual oil revenues to local communities in the oil-extraction region. [Stephanie Hancock," [http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL20779403 Chad dissolves oil income body, cites mismanagement] ", Reuters, 20-7-2007.]
* July 23 - European Union foreign ministers in a joint meeting give instructions to their military staffs to draw up plans for an operation to deploy EU troops in Chad and the Central African Republic, as part UN peacekeeping force. France is expected to play a dominant role in this EU force. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6911936.stm Europe plans Darfur border force] ", BBC News, 23-7-2007.]
* July 30 - Following Gabonese mediation President Déby meets in the capital with a group of opposition leaders in exile, led by Goukouni Oueddei but including also Fidèle Moungar, Ahmat Yacoub, Adoum Togoï and Antoine Bangui. [ [http://africanpress.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/ndjamena-meeting-an-important-step-in-the-search-for-the-restoration-and-strengthening-of-peace-in-chad/ "N'djamena meeting - an important step in the search for the restoration and strengthening of peace in Chad"] , APA, July 31, 2007.]
* August 9 - Lake Léré, due to heavy rains, overflows flooding homes in dozens of surrounding villages, with people being carried away by the waters. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73727 People flee villages as Lake Lere overflows] ", IRIN News, 14-8-2007.]
* August 10 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon proposes a plan for the deployment of UN peacekeeping troops in eastern Chad with the primary objective of protecting civilians. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73893 Revised plan for peacekeeping raises concern] ", IRIN News, 23-8-2007.]
* August 13 - The Chadian government and the opposition sign an accord postopning legislative elections to 2009 and on sharing power up to that date. [Betel Miarom, " [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L13761115.htm Chad parties agree election commission, delay polls] ", Reuters (alertnet.org), 13-8-2007]
* August 22 - New tribal clashes among Zaghawa and Tama in Dar Tama cause the death of eleven Tama and one Zaghawa. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73940 Fighting between president's and defence chief’s ethnic groups] ", IRIN news, 23-8-2007]
* August 23 - Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmad Allam-Mi protested with the Central African Republic government for the killing of four Chadian civilians by a CAR soldier. [Betel Miarom, " [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L23625794.htm Chad protests to CAR after soldiers kill civilians] ", Reuters (alertnet.org), 23-8-2007.]
* August 26 - As a measure to contain the serious flood damage caused by the heavy rains the overnment has promised to provide US$623,000 for the Chadians displaced in the Mayo-Kebbi Ouest. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=73972 Govt to provide US$600,000 of aid as flood damage spreads] ", IRIN News, 27-8-2007.]
* August 27 - Pending arbitration by the International Trade Union Confederation, Chadian Union leaders suspend a strike by the country's civil servants which has disrupted public schools and hospitals since its beginning in May. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74095 Threat of public sector strikes still hangs over government] ", IRIN News, 4-9-2007.]
* September 6 - The World Food Programme (WFP) launches an appeal for US$81 million so to be able to feed Darfur refugees and internally displaced persons in eastern Chad. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74163 More aid needed now but peacekeepers not expected for months] ", IRIN News, 6-9-2007.]
* September 12 - Armed men allegedly working for the security forces detain Al Jazeera correspondent Fadoul Beneye.
* September 14 - A leader of Timane Erdimi's Rassemblement des Forces du Changement (RFC) warns that EU troops (expected as part of the future peacekeeping force) will be attacked if they won't remain neutral. [" [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74310 Rebels warn of "total war" if EU force is not neutral] ", IRIN News, 14-9-2007.]
* September 20 - In his first visit in the country since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2006, Idriss Déby arrives in the People's Republic of China to meet top Chinese officials, included President Hu Jintao. [" [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/20/content_6758489.htm Chadian president starts China visit] ", Xinhua, 20-9-2007.]
* October 4 - The Déby government and the four main Chadian armed groups sign an accord in Libya, which in exchange for a ceasefire promises a government posts. The accord opens the road for the deployment in eastern Chad of an international peace contingent. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7027759.stm Chad rebels agree move to peace] ", BBC News, 4-10-2007]
* October 8 - The Chadian government and three exiled opposition parties (Younous Ibedou Awad's Alliance of Resistant Democrats (ADR), Chadian Democratic Rally (RDT) and the Union of the Chadian People for National Reconstruction (UPTRN)) sign in Cotonou in Benin, including an amnesty and the full participation of the opposition to the political life. [" [http://www.afriquenligne.fr/news/daily-news/govt,-chadian-opposition-sign-peace-pact-in-cotonou-2007100910268/ Govt, Chadian opposition sign peace pact in Cotonou] ", PANA press (Afriquenligne), 8-10-2007.] [ [http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=afric_item_eng&id_article=43698 "Chadian gov’t, exiled opposition parties sign peace deal in Benin"] , APA, October 9, 2007.]
* October 10 - An estimated 1,000 former FUC fighters located in Dar Tama, amid voices that they were going to be disarmed, desert the government and move towards the Chadian-Sudanese border. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSL12573957 Chad defence chief urges calm as ex-rebels desert] ", Reuters, 12-10-2007.]
* October 12 - US evangelical missionary Steve Goldbold is kidnapped by MDJT rebels in the Tibesti region. The MDJT leader Aboubakar Choua Dazi accuses Goldbold to be "in the service of the regime in N'Djamena to create division in the center of the movement". [Naomi Schwarz, [http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-10/2007-10-19-voa20.cfm?CFID=216974119&CFTOKEN=16672352 "American Missionary Kidnapped in Northern Chad"] , VOA News, October 19, 2007.] [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLG4gID1wWEA5nTTCXCwgkShJpEw "Chadian rebels take American aid worker hostage"] , AFP, October 19, 2007.]
* November 30 - Four army officers, the sultan and the governor of Dar Tama, and one additional individual are arrested in Guéréda. The governor is a member of the FUC, while the sultan is accused is accused of sympathising with the rebels. [ [http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jauaue42NjpDV1cVyoVe4kh7T3zQ "Chad army in clashes with rebel group"] , AFP, December 6, 2007.]
* December 14 - Nadjikimo Benoudjita, managing editor of the small weekly newspaper "Notre Temps", is arrested without warrant. While in custody it was announced that the "Notre Temps" was to be considered "purely and simply shut down".Amnesty International, [http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/chad-pressure-mounting-journalists-20080121 Chad: Pressure mounting on journalists] , press release, January 21, 2008.]
* December 17 - The journalist Nadjikimo Benoudjita is charged with "incitement to tribal and religious hatred" and released on bail.

Deaths

* January 30 - Koibla Djimasta, National Mediator and former Prime Minister, dies. [ [http://democratie.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/Lettre_information_AOMF_04.pdf Lettre d'information n1 ] ]
* February 23 - Pascal Yoadimnadji, Prime Minister of Chad, dies in Paris aged 57 from a brain haemorrhage.
* May 4 - General Noël Milarew Odingar, protagonist of the Chadian coup of 1975, dies in Paris. [ [http://www.cefod.org/Presse/revuepresse23.07.05.07.htm Révue de presse tchadienne ] ]
* July 2 - Brahim Déby, 27 years old son of the Chadian President Idriss Déby, is assassinated in Paris. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6261408.stm Chad leader's son killed in Paris] ", BBC News, 2-7-2007]

References