[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 701 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 701
Calling for a democratic transition in the Republic of Chad and
standing with the people of Chad.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 11, 2022
Mr. Menendez submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for a democratic transition in the Republic of Chad and
standing with the people of Chad.
Whereas the people of the Republic of Chad suffered for three decades under the
authoritarian rule of Idriss Deby, whose government was characterized by
human rights abuses, rampant corruption, gross mismanagement of
government resources, the suppression of civil liberties and fundamental
freedoms, including freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression, and
internet blockages;
Whereas President Idriss Deby impeded the ability of the people of Chad to
change their government by violating constitutionally mandated
presidential term limits in 2005, repeatedly postponing legislative
elections which were last held in 2011, arresting opposition party
members and civil society activists, and organizing presidential
elections that were neither free nor fair;
Whereas, from 2016 to 2021, authorities in Chad blocked or limited access to the
internet for 911 days, totaling two and a half years, to impede the
ability of Chadian citizens to criticize their government, organize
public protests, hold their government accountable, monitor presidential
elections, or access outside information;
Whereas, under the constitution of Chad, upon President Deby's death on April
20, 2021, power should have passed to the President of the National
Assembly to organize new democratic elections;
Whereas, instead of adhering to the constitution, a group of Chadian military
officers installed President Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, as
Transitional Military Council (TMC) president, suspended the
constitution, and dissolved the government and National Assembly;
Whereas the actions of Mahamat Deby and the Chadian military in April 2021
constituted a coup d'etat;
Whereas security forces in Chad used excessive force, including live ammunition,
against civilians protesting the coup in April and May 2021, killing at
least 7 individuals, wounding dozens more, and arresting hundreds;
Whereas the African Union's Peace and Security Council expressed ``grave
concern'' with the establishment of the TMC and stated on May 14, 2021,
its ``total rejection of any unconstitutional change of government,''
noting the appointment of a prime minister and ``civilian-led
Transitional Government'' but categorically asserting that no form of
extension of the transition period beyond the 18-month timeline of
October 22, 2022, would be acceptable, and calling on Mahamat Deby and
members of the TMC to commit to not contesting or taking part in
elections transitional authorities are responsible for organizing;
Whereas the African Union reaffirmed on August 3, 2021, the need for the
Transitional Government to respect the 18-month transitional timeline
for elections in October 2022 and reiterated that members of the TMC
``shall not be eligible to be candidates for the elections at the end of
the transition'';
Whereas the TMC released from jail approximately 300 people charged with crimes
of opinion, terrorism, and harming the State in November 2021, in
advance of a dialogue with armed groups in Qatar;
Whereas the TMC and several dozen rebel groups launched a pre-dialogue process
in Qatar in March 2022, in advance of an inclusive national civilian
dialogue in Chad scheduled for May 2022;
Whereas a peaceful and democratic Chad is essential for the stability and
development of Central Africa and the Sahel;
Whereas Chad faces a dire humanitarian crisis due to threats posed by terrorist
organizations and armed groups, regional instability, climate change,
food insecurity, and decades of internal mismanagement and corruption by
former President Deby's government;
Whereas the April 2021 coup d'etat was inconsistent with the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (AGOA), which states that AGOA eligible countries must
have established or are making continual progress toward establishing
the rule of law and political pluralism; and
Whereas United States security assistance to Chad, which has long been
prioritized over democracy, human rights, and development assistance,
thereby contributing to the militarization of the former Government of
Chad, should remain suspended until democratic elections are held and
civilian rule is restored: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the April 2021 military takeover in Chad as a
coup d'etat;
(2) stands with the people of Chad in their democratic
aspirations;
(3) supports the African Union's call for transitional
authorities, including General Mahamat Deby and members of the
TMC, to--
(A) organize elections by October 22, 2022, in
accordance with the 18-month timeframe articulated by
the TMC; and
(B) commit publicly not to stand as candidates in
the elections they are responsible for organizing;
(4) calls on General Mahamat Deby and leaders of the TMC
to--
(A) immediately release all of those arbitrarily
arrested during the April-May 2021 protests;
(B) ensure that security forces respect rights
related to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression
and hold accountable security force members responsible
for excessive use of force or other human rights
abuses;
(C) publicly commit not to run in elections;
(D) abide by the 18-month transitional timeline for
restoring civilian rule via free, fair, and peaceful
democratic elections and return to their barracks;
(E) support an inclusive national civilian dialogue
by ensuring that all parties may participate freely and
openly; and
(F) commit to respecting freedom of expression,
opinion, the press, and access to information to
include unimpeded internet access for the people of
Chad; and
(5) calls on the Secretary of State to--
(A) identify coup leaders and their accomplices and
enablers working to undermine a democratic process in
Chad for consideration for visa restrictions and
targeted financial sanctions where available;
(B) state publicly that those who perpetrate human
rights abuses or works to undermine the democratic
process in Chad, including by impeding freedoms of
peaceful of assembly, expression, or association,
including related to press and access to information,
will be held accountable, which could include through
visa restrictions and financial sanctions where
available;
(C) publicly urge TMC leaders to abide by the 18-
month transitional timeline, restore civilian rule, and
publicly commit not to run as candidates;
(D) monitor, discourage, and deter any effort by
external parties to support the extension of the TMC's
mandate or otherwise delay or interfere with the
restoration of civilian rule via free, fair, and
peaceful democratic elections;
(E) coordinate with other Federal departments and
agencies to--
(i) suspend non-humanitarian bilateral
assistance to the Government of Chad, including
security assistance, until civilian rule is
restored via free, fair, and peaceful
democratic elections;
(ii) prioritize support for an inclusive
civilian national dialogue by ensuring the
participation of opposition party members,
civil society leaders, women, and youth;
(iii) prioritize support for a free, fair,
and peaceful electoral process by working with
electoral authorities, political party
representatives, and members of civil society
in Chad;
(iv) support, as appropriate, efforts to
draft a new constitution;
(v) ensure that the United States bilateral
policy towards Chad is fully aligned with the
broader policy for the Sahel called for in the
Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership
Program Act of 2022 (division AA of Public Law
117-103); and
(vi) ensure future assistance is
appropriately balanced between defense,
diplomacy, and development; and
(F) direct the Department of the Treasury to use
the voice and vote of the United States in
international financial institutions to ensure there is
a mechanism for civil society to have input into the
development and oversight of programs and activities
being funded, and that support provided through such
instructions prioritize the restoration of civilian
rule, including through free, fair, and peaceful
democratic elections.
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