Chad’s Deby reshuffles to benefit of poll-chief

Aug 15, 2006 (N’DJAMENA) – Chad’s President Idriss Deby reshuffled his government on Tuesday, awarding a ministerial portfolio to the man who supervised his re-election in May.

Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, handed the influential territorial administration portfolio, was head of the Independent National Electoral Commission that organised Deby’s winning vote.

The election gave Deby his third five-year term, with 77.5 percent of votes, despite an opposition boycott. Diplomats reported a low turnout and irregularities such as child voting.

Deby, who was sworn in last week, retained his prime minister and oil, finance and economic ministers, and ushered allies into an enlarged 39-member cabinet to run the landlocked oil producer.

The new government line-up also gave cabinet jobs to three politicians who stood against Deby in the May 3 election, giving the ballot a legitimacy it may have lacked had the president been the sole candidate.

The three – Albert Payimi Padaket, Delwa Kassire Coumakoye and Ibrahim Koulamallah – broadly support Deby and took part two weeks ago in a national political dialogue shunned by hard-line opponents.

Facing rebellion on Chad’s eastern border with Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur region – from groups including deserters from his own army – Deby has tried to consolidate his position through political dialogue. But the main opposition parties have refused to take part unless rebel groups are included.

Deby temporarily broke off diplomatic relations with Sudan in April, accusing Khartoum of aiding a rebel assault on N’Djamena.

He restored links a week ago as he and Sudan’s government gave mutual security guarantees on the sidelines of his swearing-in ceremony.

(Reuters)