Activists to defy government protest ban

Civil society activists in Chad are planning a major anti-government march to protest against ‘anti-social measures’, despite a ban by authorities. Activist Mahamat Nour Ibedou, who heads the Chadian Convention for Human Rights, ia quoted in a News24 report as saying: ‘We decided not to accept the systematic bans placed on our planned peaceful marches.' He did not confirm a date. In late November, several hundred people were allowed to demonstrate against the US travel ban, after Chad was included on the list of countries whose citizens were indefinitely blocked from entering the US. A few days later, however, police prevented protesters from holding a march to ‘denounce the dictatorial regime’ of President Idriss Deby, who won another five-year term last year after 26 years in office. ‘If authorities allow a protest in their favour, we, too, have the right to protest,’ Ibedou added.