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Chad sentenced more than 400 rebels to life in prison. Photo/France 24
NDJAMENA – More than 400 rebels in Chad was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday following the death of former ruler Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed in 2021, a public prosecutor told AFP.
“After the mass trial, they were sentenced for acts of terrorism, mercenary, recruitment of child soldiers and assault on the head of state,” said Mahamat El-Hadj Abba Nana, prosecutor of the capital N’Djamena, as quoted by France 24, Wednesday ( 22/3/2023).
He did not provide detailed figures for those imprisoned, saying only that more than 400 people were sentenced to life in prison, while 24 other accused were acquitted.
The trial opened last month behind closed doors at Klessoum prison, 20 kilometers southeast of the capital.
In early 2021, the country’s main rebel group, the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT), launched an offensive in the north of the country from bases in Libya.
On April 20, the army announced that Marshal Deby, ruler of the iron fist of Chad for the previous three decades, had died from wounds received in the battle.
His death was announced just a day after he was declared the winner of the presidential election that gave him a sixth term.
He was soon succeeded by one of his sons, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who assumed leadership of the 15-member military junta.
Some of the defendants were also ordered to pay compensation of more than $32 million or around Rp489 billion to the state and $1.6 million (Rp24.4 billion) to the former president’s family, said FACT lawyer Francis Lokoulde, suggesting there would be an appeal.
