Chad: Presidential Runner-Up Padacke Named as Interim PM

Chad's new military rulers named Albert Pahimi Padacke as prime minister of a transitional government on Monday.

The appointment, quickly dismissed by an opposition leader, comes week after President Idriss Déby's death. A military council seized power after Déby's death, a move that opposition politicians have called a coup.

The military council headed by Déby's son, Mahamat Idriss Déby, has said it will oversee an 18-month transition to elections. However, it is coming under international pressure to hand over power to civilians as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the French government voiced its concerns over Chad’s political stability.

“It worries me. We must be very vigilant regarding the stability of the situation,” Le Drian stated. “Is the transitional military council going to ensure Chad’s stability and cohesion?”

Padacke served as prime minister from 2016 to 2018, and was seen as one of Déby's allies, despite running against him several times. He came second with 10.3% of the vote in an April 11 election.

Yacine Abderamane, president of the opposition Reformist Party, revealed that he would not accept Padacke's nomination.

"It is not up to the transitional military council to designate a prime minister in this isolated manner," Abderamane said. "We want there to be talks between political parties, civil society and other actors in order to reach a consensus."