The National Forum for Traditional Authorities in Chad commenced on October 29 in Mongo, the capital of the Guera province. The event was inaugurated by Limane Mahamat, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, representing the Head of State. The forum aims to identify the causes of conflicts and formulate concrete proposals to prevent and manage crises, promoting peaceful coexistence.
The three-day forum brings together traditional authorities from Chad's 23 provinces to discuss the causes of clashes, particularly between farmers and herders, intercommunal conflicts, and land-related disputes that have resulted in loss of life, divisions, and social fragility. The authorities will focus on identifying the root causes of these conflicts and develop recommendations to establish suitable frameworks to curb the cycle of violence.
Tamitah Djidingar, President of the High Council of Traditional Chieftaincies, emphasized the role of traditional authorities in maintaining peace and unity. He stated that traditional leaders must be a unifying factor, protecting all communities under their jurisdiction without distinction, and work to appease tensions, reconcile adversaries, and preserve human life.
In his opening remarks, Limane Mahamat called on traditional leaders to demonstrate exemplary behavior and engage more actively in conflict resolution. He expressed concern over the repeated and prolonged absences of some chiefs who reside outside their areas of jurisdiction, hindering their ability to prevent and resolve conflicts.
The Deputy Prime Minister cited several causes of conflicts, including non-respect for transhumance corridors, anarchic expansion of farmland, governance failures, and the passage of livestock during harvest periods. He warned that sanctions would be implemented against traditional leaders who fail to meet their responsibilities.
The forum's discussions are centered around four themes: republican values, conflict prevention, traditional mediation, and social cohesion. The government expects concrete outcomes, including the development of a national roadmap, the establishment of a national conflict prevention mechanism, and the adoption of a charter of ethics and good conduct for traditional authorities.
The expected outcomes of the forum also include the creation of a permanent dialogue framework between the High Council of Traditional Chieftaincies and the government, as well as the establishment of a database of local mediation and early warning mechanisms. The government hopes that these measures will help to prevent and manage conflicts, promoting peaceful coexistence and social stability in Chad.
Key points
- The forum aims to identify causes of conflicts and develop proposals to prevent and manage crises.
- Traditional leaders are called upon to demonstrate exemplary behavior and engage in conflict resolution.
- The government expects concrete outcomes, including a national roadmap and a charter of ethics for traditional authorities.
