Two years ago, Chadian President Idriss Déby was killed fighting with Fact rebels in the Kanem region, 300km northwest of Ndjamena. Several grey areas remain on the exact circumstances of his death and the investigation that followed.
The investigation promised at the time into the death of Idriss Déby never gave rise to official and public conclusions, although 455 Fact fighters were sentenced to life imprisonment on March 21 for, in particular, “terrorism” and ” attack on the life of the Head of State”. Among them, 380 were pardoned by the transitional president and released on April 5th. 55 others sentenced in absentia, including the leader of the group, Mahamat Mahdi Ali, did not benefit from it.
The trial of the prisoners of Fact, which took place in the prison of Koro Toro in Chad, was shrouded in mystery. Defense lawyers and independent media were unable to attend the hearings, making it difficult to determine the exact details of what was said. One crucial point of interest was whether the magistrates mentioned the circumstances surrounding the death of Idriss Déby during the rebel group’s offensive. However, due to the lack of transparency, the truth remained elusive. The trial was held behind closed doors, leaving many questions unanswered and leaving room for speculation about what was discussed during those fateful proceedings in the heart of the desert.