Heavily-armed security forces cracked down at the weekend, using tear
gas to disperse opposition activists who rallied despite an official
ban in the poor, landlocked nation.
One young protester was shot dead on Sunday, opposition and police sources said.
"We
are in the right. It's the government that is acting illegally by
preventing political parties from expressing themselves," Saleh Kebzabo,
Deby's nearest rival in the April presidential vote, said Saturday.
Various
groups have planned a day of "mourning" Monday, when Deby is to be
inaugurated in the capital N'Djamena before about a dozen African heads
of state and other guests such as French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le
Drian.
On Friday opposition activists announced they had filed a
complaint in court alleging "high treason" against Deby, claiming
"illegal taking of power by violence" and "misuse of public money".
Deby
came to power in 1990 and was re-elected in a first round vote in April
with 61.5 percent of ballots cast against 12.8 percent for Kebzabo,
according to official results.
The opposition called Deby's
re-election a "political hold-up", saying their own count showed no
candidate won outright at the first stage.
The election campaign
was marred by a clampdown on demonstrations by unions and rights groups
demanding a change of leadership and democratic reforms. Arrests and
disappearances of activists are common in the nation of 12 million.
The
situation in the oil-producing semi-desert country, a key player in the
fight against west African jihadist groups, has been tense in recent
months.
The opposition has laid partial blame on France, Chad's
former colonial ruler, claiming it has turned a blind eye to alleged
human rights violations.
Chad is an active ally of Western nations
and its neighbours in the battle against the Nigeria-based Islamists of
Boko Haram. N'Djamena is also the headquarters for France's Barkhane
anti-jihadist force.
Despite the regime's strict security set-up,
Chad has seen unusual social tension this year. The gang rape of a
schoolgirl by the sons of senior officials triggered angry
demonstrations around the country, which were severely dealt with by the
authorities.
The government has also been weakened by a difficult
economic situation linked to the collapse in the price of oil. Strikes
by officials over late salary payments have been growing.
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