[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 113 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3202-S3203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 701--CALLING FOR A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN THE 
         REPUBLIC OF CHAD AND STANDING WITH THE PEOPLE OF CHAD

  Mr. MENENDEZ submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 701

       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

[[Page S3203]]

     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;
       (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.

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