As predicted by Enough, Chad’s rebels have not only banded together in a “unified insurgency” aimed at toppling Chad’s President, Idriss Déby; they have also elected a leader, Timan Erdimi, to lead the rebellion. Mahamat Nouri, another key rebel figure in Chad who stepped aside when his former rival Erdimi was elected last week as president of the new Union of the Resistance Forces had this to say about the new coalition:
It’s a big step. We agreed to create a new union. We are all capable of understanding each other to defend the general interests beyond the quarrels of people with egotistical interests.
Will Chad’s capital N’Djamena soon face its fourth coup attempt in four years? This would not be a great surprise; Chad’s coup attempts have become as regular an occurrence as a rainy season. It is also telling that the rebels met not in eastern Chad, but right next door in their rear base of Darfur. Relations between Chad and Sudan seem to be once again on a collision course as Chad accused Sudan of backing the new rebel alliance. This also comes as rebels in Darfur appear to be increasing the tempo of their operations against the Sudanese government.