LOL MAHAMAT CHOUA

Lol Mahamat Choua, born on June 15, 1939, in Mao, French Equatorial Africa, emerged as a significant figure during Chad's tumultuous First Civil War. A devout Muslim and a member of the Kanembu ethnic group, Choua's political journey began in a period marked by intense conflict and power struggles. The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Chad (MPLT), a Kanembu rebel faction supported by Nigeria, became one of the key players in the civil war, alongside other groups like the Armed Forces of the North (FAN) and the People's Armed Forces (FAP).

In 1979, under pressure from Nigeria during peace talks in Kano, Choua was appointed as the head of the Transitional Government of National Unity (GUNT). His leadership in the GUNT was a delicate balancing act, representing a government composed of both northern and southern factions. However, the exclusion of pro-Libyan forces from the GUNT led to the formation of a rival government supported by Libya, escalating the political tensions. Despite efforts to stabilize the situation, the Lagos Accord, signed later that year, resulted in Choua being replaced by Goukouni Oueddei as head of the transitional government.

After his displacement, Choua briefly went into exile in Paris before returning to Chad in 1982, where he served as Minister of Transport under President Hissène Habré until 1985. The political landscape shifted again when Idriss Déby overthrew Habré in 1990 and legalized opposition parties. Choua founded the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), primarily based in the Kanem Region. He played a pivotal role in the Sovereign National Conference of 1993, which aimed to transition Chad to multiparty democracy. As president of the newly formed Higher Transitional Council (CST), Choua found himself at odds with Déby, leading to his replacement in 1994.

Choua continued to participate in Chad's evolving political system, placing fifth in the country’s first multiparty presidential election in 1996. He remained active in the National Assembly as an RDP representative and led his party's parliamentary group. In the 2001 presidential election, the RDP supported Déby, and in 2002, the party secured 12 seats in the National Assembly. Choua himself was re-elected from his home constituency in Mao.

Throughout his career, Choua consistently voiced his opposition to policies he found unjust, such as the 2005 referendum that aimed to remove presidential term limits. His commitment to political integrity was evident when he led a committee overseeing preparations for the 2009 parliamentary elections, following a political agreement in 2007.

In February 2008, Choua's life took a perilous turn during a rebel attack on N'Djamena. Arrested by the presidential guard under harsh conditions, his fate became a concern for the international community. Although the government initially claimed he was collaborating with the rebels, Choua was eventually placed under house arrest. Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lol_Mahamat_Choua