Youssouf Togoïmi facts for kids

Youssouf Togoïmi (born March 26, 1953 – died September 24, 2002) was an important politician from Chad. He worked in the government under President Idriss Déby. Later, he became the leader of a group called the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT). This group was a rebel group that opposed President Déby's government.

A Life in Chadian Politics

Youssouf Togoïmi was born in 1953 in a place called Zouar. His family came from the Tibesti Mountains and were part of the Teda group. He studied law and became a jurist. He was one of the few people from his region to hold high positions in the Chadian government.

Early Government Roles

Togoïmi started his career as a state prosecutor. He worked in cities like Abéché and N'Djaména during the time Hissène Habré was president. After a change in government in 1990, he served under President Idriss Déby.

He held several important jobs:

• He was the Minister of Justice from 1990 to 1993.
• He served as the Minister of Defence from 1995 to 1997.
• On May 21, 1997, he became the Minister of the Interior.

Resignation and Reputation

Soon after becoming Minister of the Interior, Togoïmi resigned on June 3, 1997. He said he left because he felt the government was becoming too controlling. Many people saw Togoïmi as a very inspiring leader. He had a great reputation as an honest and fair politician. People believed he could unite different groups of people. However, some also saw his break with President Déby as related to their different ethnic backgrounds. Togoïmi was a Toubou, and Déby was a Zaghawa.

Leading a Rebel Group

On October 12, 1998, Youssouf Togoïmi started a new group. It was called the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT). This group was a rebel movement that wanted to remove the government. They first received support from Libya.

Fighting for Change

The MDJT started their operations from the Tibesti Mountains. They fought a guerrilla war against the government's army. This is a type of fighting where small groups use surprise attacks.

Peace Talks and Challenges

In December 2001, Togoïmi was re-elected as the MDJT leader at a meeting in Sabha, Libya. He then said he was willing to talk with the government. On January 7, 2002, the MDJT's second vice-president, Adoum Togoi, signed a peace agreement. This happened in Tripoli, Libya.

The agreement included:

• A stop to the fighting (cease-fire).
• The MDJT joining the government.
• Their fighters becoming part of the national army.

Chad's National Assembly of Chad approved a pardon for MDJT members in February. But a month later, the agreement started to fall apart. The government did not agree to some MDJT demands. For example, they rejected the idea of a new prime minister from the MDJT.

In May, Adoum Togoi, who was seen as more moderate, was reportedly hurt and taken by Togoïmi. This showed a disagreement within the group about the peace talks. Soon after, fighting started again.

Death and Legacy

Youssouf Togoïmi was injured by a land mine in late August 2002. This happened in the Tibesti area. He died from his injuries in Tripoli on September 24, 2002. A spokesman for the Chadian government said that his death "ought to make it easier for peace to return to Chad."