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Chad, DRC, Rwanda: Popular Diplomacy Against Regional War
By: Charilogone Editorial StaffPopular Diplomacy and a Strategic Shift
On February 18, 2025, amid growing tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshisekedi issued an official appeal to Mahamat Idriss Déby for Chadian military intervention against the M23 rebellion. This gesture, intended to strengthen Congolese forces, could have drawn Chad into a complex regional war.
But against all odds, the voice of the Chadian people prevailed. Citizens, civil society, parliamentarians, and political figures rejected this request, calling for neutrality. This popular refusal not only avoided a military escalation, but also paved the way for an unprecedented diplomatic rapprochement between Chad and Rwanda, sealed on July 16, 2025 during the visit of President Paul Kagame's special envoy to N'Djamena.
Development: National Mobilization and Strategic Repositioning
Chronology of Events:
February 18, 2025: Official appeal by Félix Tshisekedi to Mahamat Déby for military intervention.
End of February 2025: Citizen mobilization and petitions against Chad's involvement in the DRC.
July 16, 2025: Diplomatic meeting between Mahamat Déby and Rwandan envoy Olivier Jean Patrick Nduhungirehe, who delivered a personal message from Paul Kagame.
Political and Citizen Voices Against the Intervention
- Takilal Neldjingaye, Member of Parliament for the 7th arrondissement of N'Djamena and member of the National Transitional Council (NTC), denounced the exploitation of the Chadian army for external purposes. He emphasized the need for national consensus before any military decision, especially in the context of a political transition.
Citizen Mobilization and Popular Diplomacy
Petitions, forums, and declarations emerged in late February 2025, calling on the Chadian government to reject military intervention. Citizens advocated for diplomacy based on respect for the principles of good neighborliness and regional cooperation.
This popular rejection influenced the government's stance, which chose to strengthen its ties with Rwanda rather than align itself with a logic of confrontation. Paul Kagame's message, delivered personally to Mahamat Déby, marked a strategic convergence between the two countries on the issues of peace, security, and development.
Popular Wisdom as a Geopolitical Compass
Chad's refusal to engage militarily in the DRC is not a mere diplomatic incident. It embodies a mature citizen-led political process capable of influencing state decisions. By opting for neutrality and strengthening its relations with Rwanda, Chad has demonstrated that peace can be guided by the people, not by military calculations.
In an Africa seeking stability, this stance could well become a model: when people speak, governments listen.
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