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[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 701 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

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.
                                 <all>
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