Unrest closes Society in ChadN’DJAMENA, Chad — The Bible Society of Chad (BSC) was forced to close for several days in May during the political unrest which followed the re-election of President Idriss Deby. Opposition parties were contesting the election results, which saw Mr Deby win more than 67 per cent of the votes. Elie Ndoubayidi, BSC Executive Secretary, described the situation in the capital after the announcement of Mr Deby’s landslide victory on May 28 as “chaotic”. “Soldiers have been tracking down opposition militants and firing at them,” he said. “The Bible Society offices and the homes of a number of staff members, including [my own home], are in the same part of the city, and for some days it was not possible for [us] to go to work.” Bible Society staff were eventually able to resume work but fighting between government troops and rebel forces continues in other parts of the country. (WR 362/20 - 09.01) e-151 |