Chad: Information on the Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT), including ideology, activities, and structure within and outside Chad; treatment of members, leaders and their families, by authorities (2012-December 2016)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 December 2016 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TCD105712.E |
| Related Document(s) | Tchad : information sur le Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT), y compris son idéologie, ses activités et sa structure au Tchad et à l'étranger; information sur le traitement réservé aux membres, aux dirigeants et à leurs familles par les autorités (2012-décembre 2016) |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Chad: Information on the Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT), including ideology, activities, and structure within and outside Chad; treatment of members, leaders and their families, by authorities (2012-December 2016), 23 December 2016, TCD105712.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/59d380c34.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
1. Overview and Ideology
A press release on the website of the Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT) states that it was established in June 2011 in Tibesti (MACT 4 Dec. 2012a). Sources describe the MACT as a [translation] "politico-military" movement (ibid. 22 Dec. 2012; Ambenatna Infos 6 Dec. 2012). In a communique published on Tchadactuel, a Chadian online news source, the MACT describes itself as having been founded by Chadian [translation] "patriots" in response to a need for change in Chad following decades of rule by President Idriss Deby (MACT 4 Dec. 2012a).
2. Leadership
The MACT indicates in its press release that Mr. Ali Ordjo Hemchi was designated president of the MACT following the creation of the organization in anticipation of the holding of a congress in [translation] "the near future" (MACT 4 Dec. 2012a). According to sources, Ordjo Hemchi is a former academic (Ambenatna Infos 6 Dec. 2012; IHS Global Insight 28 Sept. 2015) and "former militant" (ibid.). Ambenatna Infos, a website dedicated to news from Chad and Africa, reports that Ordjo Hemchi is an economist who is also known for his [translation] "battle exploits" while participating in an eastern rebellion as an influential leader of the UFDD [Union des forces pour la démocratie et le développement] (6 Dec. 2012). For information on the UFDD, see Response to Information Request TCD105337 of October 2015.
In December 2012, the MACT announced in a decision posted on its website, that it had chosen André Ngarbatem as its communication representative for Europe (MACT 4 Dec. 2012b). The MACT also announced in another decision that it had named Jebren Ahmed Issa as its representative for the Middle East (ibid. 15 Dec. 2012).
In an interview with Senegalese news site Dakaractu, Abdallah Chidi Djorkodei, a Chadian living in exile in the US and who was also previously active in other opposition movements such as the UFDD, and who founded Groupe Tchadhana Press to [translation] "provide news on Chad and the world," identified himself as a member of the MACT (Dakaractu 3 Apr. 2013). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Further information on the leadership of the MACT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
3. Structure and Affiliates
Information on the structure of the MACT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
In an article posted on the MACT website, it is stated that the movement [translation] "is formed around a solid core of youth" (MACT 22 Dec. 2012). In a press release published on the website of the MACT, a group called the Collectif des jeunes patriotes tchadiens pour la démocratie et la paix (CJPTDP) announced that it was giving its complete support to the MACT, and called on [translation] "all youth forces" of Chad to do the same (CJPTDP 13 Dec. 2012). The press release identifies "Mahamat M.K" and "François D.N" as co-ordinators of the CJPTDP (ibid.). Information on the CJPTDP and its role within the MACT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
A press release from the "Coordination de la Jeunesse du MACT," published on the "Tchadenligne" blog, which describes itself as a [translation] "synthesis of Chadian sites" (Tchadenligne, n.d.), states that the "Coordination de la Jeunesse du MACT" was organizing a meeting in Tours, France, on December 2012, where it invited all Chadian youths to become involved and present their ideas about the MACT (MACT 10 Dec. 2012). Further information on the role of the Coordination de la jeunesse du MACT within the MACT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
4. Activities
In 2015, IHS Global Insight, a "country and industry forecasting service" that provides "economic, financial, and political coverage of countries, regions, and industries" (IHS Global Insight n.d.), reported that,
[i]n May 2013, there was an unconfirmed local media report that three senior military officials had defected from the Chadian armed forces in Biltine province with five vehicles and weapons to join the ranks of MACT rebels. In a press statement in August 2015, Hemchi urged a general mobilisation against Déby as his 'armed forces' were ready to rise to the challenge. (IHS Global Insight 28 Sept. 2015)
A September 2015 article on the website of weekly Cameroon newspaper Intégration reported that the MACT had announced a [translation] "military operational command centre" in northern Chad (Intégration 21 Sept. 2015). According to sources, there were reports that forces under the command of Ali Ordjo Hemchi, were planning to attack Ndjamena (ibid.; IHS Global Insight 28 Sept. 2015) which were based on an unconfirmed report from a local news agency, according to IHS (ibid.). Further information on alleged military actions or other activities by the MACT could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
5. Treatment of Members, Leaders and Their Families, by Authorities
Information on the treatment of members and leaders of the MACT and their families could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ambenatna Infos. 6 December 2012. "Bruit de bottes dans le Tibesti: le MACT du Dr. Ali Ordjo HEMCHI ouvre le front| Ambenatna." [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
Collectif des jeunes patriotes tchadiens pour la démocratie (CJPTDP). 15 December 2012. "Communiqué de presse: soutien du Collectif des jeunes patriotes tchadiens pour la démocratie et la paix (CJPTDP) au MACT." [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
Dakaractu. 3 April 2013. "Abdallah Djorkodei : 'L'Affaire Hissène Habré est un dossier monté de toutes pièces par feu le dictateur Kadhafi et l'Occident, notamment la France!'" [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
IHS Global Insight. 28 September 2015. Murtala Touray. "Chad Faces Elevated Risk of Insurgency Amid Persisting Threats of Islamist Attacks Against Western Assets and Personnel." (Factiva)
IHS Global Insight. N.d. "About IHS Global Insight." [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016]
Intégration. 21 September 2015. Célestin Ngoa Balla. "Déchéance: Les Américains quittent le Tchad." [Accessed 20 Dec. 2016]
Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT). 22 December 2012. "Le MACT: le nouvel horizon du peuple tchadien." [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT). 15 December 2012. "Décision Nº 004/PR/MACT/12." [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]
Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT). 10 December 2012. "Communiqué de presse: La coordination de la jeunesse du MACT organise une réunion à Tours en France." [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT).4 December 2012a. "Communiqué: relatif à la création du Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT)." [Accessed 15 Dec. 2016]
Mouvement d'action pour le changement au Tchad (MACT).4 December 2012b. "Décision Nº 003/PR/MACT/2012." [Accessed 12 Dec. 2016]
Tchadenligne. N.d. "Tchadenligne.com." [Accessed 22 Dec. 2016]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Association tchadienne pour la non-violence; Association tchadienne pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l'homme; journalist and human rights activist; Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme.
Internet sites, including: AllAfrica; Amnesty International; ecoi.net; Factiva; Flux-info.fr; Groupe de reflexion et d'action pour le Tchad; Human Rights Watch; Jamestown Foundation; Jeune Afrique; Jeunes Tchad; JournalduTchad.com; Khabar Tchad; Makaila.fr; Pambazuka News; Political Handbook of the World; Regard Excentrique; Le Site Ndouné; Tchadactuel; Le Tchadanthropus; TchadConvergence; Tchadenligne; Tchadhanana Press; Tchadonline; Tchadoscopie; UN - Refworld; Zoom sur le Tchad.
