The famous pre-dialogue supposed to be held in Doha, Qatar, the date of which remains uncertain. This meeting is to prepare the future national dialogue in Ndjamena. One of the major stakes is the participation of all politico-military movements. The authorities of Chad's transition need all groups at the discussion table.

However, Timane Erdimi, heading one of the main rebel coalitions, had laid down a condition: the release of his brother Tom. This tangible proof of life appears as another gesture in an attempt to ease tensions.

Tom Erdimi, for now, is still detained in Cairo, in Tora prison, according to his brother Timane. The latter has not spoken to him directly on the telephone. A nephew went to Egypt at the beginning of the month with Chad's current president Mahamat Idriss Deby.

Release of prisoners

On this occasion, this nephew visited his uncle. And he remained in Egypt to handle the procedure allowing Tom Erdimi's full release. Tom Erdimi, 66 years old, was in Egypt with refugee status according to his family when he disappeared a year ago in December 2020, arrested according to his relatives by Egyptian secret services.

This prospect of an outcome for Tom Erdimi coincides with other gestures by Chad's authorities. On Tuesday, January 18, a ceremony for release of amnestied prisoners took place. Among them, members of the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR), the rebel alliance led by Timane Erdimi. There were also members of the Movement for Peace, Reconstruction and Development (MPRD) of Djibrine Dassert.

In December, the transition led by Mahamat Idriss Deby adopted two amnesty laws for nearly 300 opponents and combatants arrested under the regime of the late Idriss Deby.

Detainees belonging to FACT, meanwhile, are not covered by amnesty, as they have not yet been tried. An equation to be solved for the transitional authorities to hope to obtain the participation of this rebel movement in the dialogue process.