On August 8, 2022 in Doha, Qatar hosts a signing ceremony between Chad's military ruler and more than 40 opposition groups to launch national peace talks later this month. MUSTAFA ABUMUNES AFP DOHA - Chad's transitional authorities and rebel groups signed a peace agreement on Monday in Doha ahead of a broad national reconciliation dialogue later this month.
More than 30 rebel groups attended a signing ceremony for the agreement which included the parties agreeing to take part in a national, inclusive dialogue and followed months of talks in the Qatari capital.
Details, such as how the deal will be implemented and how adherence to it will be monitored, were not immediately released.
Mahamat Zene Cherif, the interim military government's foreign minister, told reporters he believed the agreement would lead to sustainable peace in Chad, adding that 1,500 representatives would attend the national dialogue on August 20.
The national dialogue is meant to include a wide range of groups and parties as well as the government and rebels.
Most of the armed groups signed this agreement and will take part in the national dialogue. He said that the national, inclusive dialogue is a forum for all Chadian people, brushing off concerns that not all groups had signed up to the deal.
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A source familiar with the agreement said that those who signed had agreed to a permanent ceasefire and to work towards civilian disarmament.
The interim military government of Chad had committed not to launch military or police operations in neighboring countries against groups that had signed up to the deal, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mahamat Idriss Deby is the interim military government headed by Mahamat Idriss Deby, who took power last year after his father's death.
In this file photo taken on April 23, 2021, Mahamat Idriss Deby pays his respects near the coffin during the state funeral for his father Chadian president Idriss Deby in N'Djamena, Chad. POOL AFP Deby declared himself the head of a Transitional Military Council in April 2021 after his father, longtime ruler Idriss Deby, was killed while visiting troops fighting the rebel insurgency in the north.
His council said it would oversee the 18 month transition to democratic rule, but it has shown little sign of organizing elections as the deadline has neared.
Qatar's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, called on groups that had not signed to join the agreement.
Qatar, a wealthy Gulf state, a ally of the United States, facilitated the negotiations.
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