Chad PM resigns ahead of censure vote

Chad’s Prime Minister Joseph Djimrangar Dadnadji has resigned along with his cabinet, a day before legislators from his own ruling majority had planned to examine a motion of censure against the government.

The prime minister’s resignation letter to President Idriss Deby was read on state television on Thursday.

“Despite the confidence you continue to grant me, the relationship with the majority, topped off by a motion of censure, hinders the continuation of my mission,” the letter stated.

“Assuming the consequences of this crisis, I present my resignation and that of my government,” it continued.

Deby, who has ruled Chad with an iron fist since 1990, has yet to officially accept his resignation.

The 74 signatories of the motion are all from the prime minister’s own party, and accused him of “arbitrary arrests of deputies” in the motion.

The accusations date back to May 1 of this year when the government uncovered a coup plot and went on to order the arrest of multiple senators and deputies on suspicion of complicity.

The deputies also accused Dadnadji, in the post for less than a year, of being “unable to manage the actions of government effectively”, and complained of his poor handling of education reforms and tackling the cost of living.

“It is important that parliament takes responsibility for censuring the government, which is incapable of overseeing the reforms necessary for the needs of the Chadian people,” the text added.

Opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo said the resignation was a missed opportunity to interrogate Dadnadji on his rule. “In resigning, he prevents that discussion,” he said.

However, Kebzabo admitted that Dadnadji’s actions were unlikely to have been under his own control.

“There has never been a prime minister in Chad who has been in charge. Power is concentrated in Idriss Deby’s hands and no one else’s,” he said.