Socialist Party Without Borders Explained

Socialist Party Without Borders
President:Yaya Dillo Djerou Betchi
Position:Centre-left to left-wing
Country:Chad
Native Name:Parti Socialiste sans Frontières
Native Name Lang:fr
Lang1:Arabic
Name Lang1:Arabic: الحزب الاشتراكي بلا حدود
Abbreviation:PSF
Founder:Dinamou Daram
Seats1 Title:Seats in the National Assembly
Womens Wing:Organisation des femmes socialiste sans frontières

The Socialist Party Without Borders (French: Parti Socialiste sans Frontières, PSF; Arabic: الحزب الاشتراكي بلا حدود) is a political party of the opposition in Chad. It is a democratic socialist party with a decentralization[1] and anti-corruption[2] platform.

On 6 August 2021, Yaya Dillo Djerou Betchi was elected president of the party, replacing the founder Dinamou Daram.[3] Under Dinamou Daram, who was jailed by the Chadian government in October 2016 for encouraging citizens not to pay taxes and fines, PSF joined the opposition coalition FONAC.[4]

February 2024 crackdown

In February 2024, the Chadian government blamed the PSF for an attack on the offices of the Chadian intelligence services, which had caused "several deaths" in N'Djamena. This attack came after the arrest of a PSF member accused of "attempted assassination against the president of the Supreme Court"[5] and a day after the announcement that the presidential elections will be held on 6 May. After 33 years of the power being in the hands of the Déby family, the elections can offer continuation to the son of Idriss Déby.[6]

After the news of both the shooting and arrest of Ahmed Torabi, the party member accused of the assassination attempt, emerged, Yaya Dillo Djérou claimed that the attacks were staged by the Chadian government. Djérou said that Torabi was executed by security forces after his arrest, with his body being placed outside the offices of the Chadian intelligence services. Other PSF members and Torabi's relatives went there to retrieve his body, but were ambushed by soldiers, resulting in several deaths.[7]

In the response, military vehicles surrounded the PSF headquarters amid heave gunfire. According to internet watchdog Netblocks, connectivity was restricted.[8] Yaya Dillo Djérou was among dozens killed on 28 February after the party's office was besieged by the Chadian Army amid unrest over the elections.[9] The attacks were condemned by the African Union, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian called on an impartial investigation into the incident.[10] On 13 March 2024, the party was dissolved by the Chadian government.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bonne gouvernance . PSF Officiel . 16 November 2021.
  2. Web site: Administration et collectivités . PSF Officiel . 16 November 2021.
  3. News: Bab . Lobey . Yaya Dillo Djerou Betchi nouveau président du parti socialiste sans frontière . 16 November 2021 . Journal Le Pays Tchad . 6 August 2021.
  4. Web site: Tchad: un opposant, membre du FONAC, arrêté – Rfi . Tchadactuel . 16 November 2021.
  5. https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/afrique/tchad/tchad-plusieurs-morts-dans-une-attaque-contre-une-agence-des-services-de-renseignement_6393463.html Tchad : plusieurs morts dans une attaque contre une agence des services de renseignement, France Info and AFP, 28 February 2024
  6. Web site: 20 April 2021. Chad's Idriss Deby, a longstanding French ally in the troubled Sahel. 20 April 2021. France 24. en. 20 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420120158/https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210420-chad-s-idriss-deby-a-longstanding-french-ally-in-the-troubled-sahel. live.
  7. Web site: Troops deployed, internet shut down in Chad’s capital amid deadly violence. Al Jazeera. 28 February 2024.
  8. News: Chad fighting Heavy gunfire in N'Djamena after attack on security HQ - BBC News . . February 28, 2024 . February 28, 2024 .
  9. Web site: Tchad: l’opposant Yaya Dillo est mort, a annoncé le procureur près le tribunal de grande instance de Ndjamena . RFI . French. 29 February 2024.
  10. News: Larcher. Laurent. 11 March 2021. Au Tchad, la campagne présidentielle se durcit. French. La Croix. 3 March 2024.
  11. News: 13 March 2024. Tchad : Le parti de feu Yaya Dillo dissous par le gouvernement.. Chad: The party of the late Yaya Dillo dissolved by the government. . French. Mali Jet. 13 March 2024.