In Russia, the Chadian president says he wants to “strengthen his relations with a friendly country”.

Chad, an ally of France, a “Brother Country” Russia’s transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, said on Wednesday January 24 that he had been received by Vladimir Putin, who in turn assured him that Moscow could help. “Stabilize Status” in the country. Russia has set a goal of regaining its influence in Africa, which it lost after the collapse of the USSR. The Kremlin has focused its efforts on countries competing with France, particularly by deploying paramilitary groups.

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“I have come as a friendly country, a brother country, a sovereign country

(want to) Strengthening its ties with friendly countries »General Deby declared, believing that his visit to Moscow would help “To strengthen (his) Bilateral Relations ». Vladimir Putin congratulated him on meeting him “Succeeded in stabilizing the situation” in Chad and claimed that Russia “Will contribute as much as possible”. Relations between Chad and Russia “Especially developed in recent years”He rejoiced.

This visit and these warm comments provide a new example of Russia’s efforts to influence the Sahel. Chad, where the French military still maintains a contingent, is Paris’ last privileged partner in the Sahel, after the forced and coercive withdrawal of French troops from Mali in August 2022, from Burkina Faso in February 2023 and from Niger last December. Each of these three countries moved closer to Russia at the same time, especially militarily. The Chadian army is considered the mainstay of the war against jihadists in the region.

Also Read | Articles are reserved for our subscribers In Chad, Mahamat Idriss Déby paved his way to the presidential election

Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday “sure” That general elections will be held in Chad “In the near future”. In mid-January, General Mahamat Idriss Deby was named as a candidate for the presidential election to be held in late 2024. In April 2021, he was announced by the army as interim president, heading a junta of fifteen generals. , after the death of his father, Idris Debi Itno, was killed on the way by the rebels. The leader then promised to hold elections “Transition”

Eighteen months, then pushed this deadline back two years.

General Deby also made his presentation “sensation” to Vladimir Putin for the death of “Russian Soldiers” A military plane crashed near Ukraine on Wednesday. According to Moscow, there are believed to be 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war. Kyiv, for its part, has not yet communicated about the disaster. Only Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, spoke, saying he wanted to wait. “All Details”, and calling “Ukrainian media and citizens should not draw hasty conclusions.” “The enemy is insidious. We all know what methods Russia uses to destabilize society.He wrote on social networks.

The world with AFP