Chad’s president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno who was due to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday has annulled his visit to the Elysee Palace. This follows an investigation into the misappropriation of public funds that tags the Chadian leader.
In retaliation, Chad’s president Mahamat Idriss Deby has annulled his visit to paris that was scheduled for July 15, 2024. He made the decision after finding out that an investigation has been opened in France into his alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Let’s recall that a new case into the affair of ill-gotten wealth had been launched this time around targeting Chadian president, Mahamat idriss Deby Itno. In line with that, a preliminary investigation was opened by the national financial prosecutor’s office (PNF) in January for embezzlement of public funds and concealment « concerning the clothing expenses of the President of the Republic of Chad ».
These investigations into these suspicions of misappropriation of public funds, entrusted to the Central Office for the Repression of Serious Financial Crime followed an article published by Mediapart in December 2023 which reported Chad’s leader spent more than 900,000 euros in Paris on suits, shirts and other luxury clothing, expenditures linked to payments received from a Chadian company via a bank.
According to Mediapart, « the payments were made from a mysterious company called MHK Full Business, registered in N’Djamena, and with an account at the Commercial Bank of Chari (BCC), one of the eight banking establishments approved in Chad. »
The funds were transferred on December 1, 2021 and then on May 4, 2023, as per the site’s investigation could be extended to the real estate assets held by the Déby family and their entourage in France.
It is worthy of note that other investigations are underway in Paris into suspicions of misappropriation of public by the families of African leaders, such as the Bongos in Gabon and the Sassou Nguessos in Congo-Brazzaville.
