Published on: 08/18/2022 – 11:30 am Modified on: 08/18/2022 – 21:47
The rebel leader of the UFR, the Union of Resistance Forces, returned this morning to Ndjamena in Chad after 17 years in exile. The head of the UFR is a signatory to the Doha Agreement in Qatar. Three hours later, UDD leader Mahamat Nouri also arrived in Ndjamena.
With our correspondent in Ndjamena, Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
Hand on heart, Timan Erdimi got off the plane that took him back to Ndjamena early in the morning. About twenty members of his family were there on the tarmac to greet him despite the rain, warm hugs for some, tears for others hidden behind their white kadamoul for the occasion, a hundred members of his movement, the UFR, were also on the airport forecourt.
Happy and moved
There were also politicians from his family like Yaya Dillo Djerou. Timan Erdimi declared himself happy and moved to return to his country after 17 years of exile to see his daughter, grandchildren and relatives, he reiterated that it is now necessary to get involved in the construction of Chad and says he is be it meetings at the national dialogue, which is to take place in a few days on August 20 in Ndjamena. He left the airport about twenty minutes after his arrival, cheered on by his relatives, and was escorted to his hotel by a large military force.
Timan Erdimi, who has been in exile for years after trying to overthrow former President Idriss Déby Itno, returned to Ndjamena on Thursday, two days ahead of a national dialogue between the civilian and armed opposition and the ruling junta.
He is the nephew of former President Idriss Déby Itno, who led the rebel columns that invaded the capital in 2019 and were stopped by Mirage 2,000 bombs dropped by the French army.
The leader of the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR) must take part in a comprehensive national dialogue starting Saturday, which must lead to “free and democratic” elections and the transfer of power to civilians.
Three hours after his arrival, another historical leader walked onto the airport tarmac. This is Mahamat Nouri, one of Hissène Habré’s first companions in the 1970s, now at the helm of the UDD.
Also note the return last night of other exiled rebels, including Gassim Cherif at the head of a dissident faction in the CCMSR, another key armed group in Chad.
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