This tuesday the Lake Chad Basin Commission met in Abuja. It is actually a summit. At this summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari launched an unlimited appeal for support to the Transitional Military Council in Chad.

A historic summit because in the history of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, this is the first time that it has been concerned through a summit with the politico-security situation of one of its member countries.

The summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, a success

The extraordinary summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission was a success. It was Nigeria, the host country, which hosted Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Libya, Niger and of course Chad. To these 6 member countries, joined Sudan and Algeria which have not yet ratified their commitment. The African Union and ECOWAS also attended this summit as observers.

According to official sources, it was a success because there was no false note at this extraordinary summit in Abuja. All the presidents of member states of the organization expressed their solidarity with General Mahamat Idriss Déby, the president of the Transitional Military Council. The big absentee at this extraordinary summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission is the Cameroonian Paul Biya who was represented, while we noted the presence of the new president of the Libyan presidential council Mohammed Younès Menfi.

President Muhammadu Buhari at the summit

In his capacity as current president of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Muhammadu Buhari insisted « on the urgency of supporting the transition underway in Chad for the balance of the Lake Chad region but also of the Sahel «. Moreover, the Nigerian number 1 recalled that support for the Transitional Military Council must not exceed the 18 months provided for the life of this body. And he also said that the Constitution of Chad should be respected as the guarantor of the country’s social contract.

It should be noted that this is a non-virtual summit that President Muhammadu Buhari led on tuesday in the confortable lounges of one of Abuja’s biggest hotels. However, this is in respect of barrier measures and social distancing as some photos have shown.