Tshisekedi was appointed by the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) to facilitate talks between Chad’s opposition parties following the sudden passing of Idriss Deby, who was succeeded by his son.

Recently, the opposition parties initiated a petition, urging their supporters to sign it with the aim of collecting a minimum of 200 signatures. The petition explicitly expresses their dissatisfaction with Tshisekedi’s role as a mediator, alleging that he has exhibited bias in favor of Chad’s Transitional President, Mahamat Déby.

One prominent opposition figure, Yaya Dillo, expressed his frustration, stating that they had been patient and cautious but now believed that Tshisekedi was conveying a biased message from those in power. He criticized Tshisekedi, contending that he is an unsuitable representative of democracy to mediate on behalf of the people of Chad.

This development occurred just as Tshisekedi’s envoy was expected in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, to facilitate negotiations between the government and its opponents.

Jean-Bernard Badaré, the spokesperson for Idriss Deby’s MPS party, who was succeeded by Deby’s son, remained resolute in asserting that negotiations would proceed irrespective of the opposition’s stance.

He underscored that Tshisekedi’s appointment was made by CEEAC, and any alteration to his role would need to originate from that organization.

In a related development, one opposition politician, Succès Masra, postponed his return to Chad after a year in exile in the United States.

Masra cited the government’s disregard for human rights, politically motivated arrests, and their subsequent release as reasons for his decision not to return to the country.