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The vast, military-run Central African nation has been on edge
since the sudden death in April 2021 of President Idriss Deby,
who ruled with an iron fist for three decades. Deby was killed
while visiting troops fighting rebels.
There has been resistance to a transitional military council
headed by Deby's son, who took power after the president's death
and pushed back elections to October 2024.
Kebzabo, president of the National Union for Democracy and
Renewal (UNDR) party, was named prime minister last week after
his predecessor, Albert Pahimi Padacke, resigned.
A new national unity government was formed on Friday to lead
Chad for the next two years until elections. But critics are
demanding a swifter return to democracy and a change in
government after Deby's long rule.
Demonstrators used burning tyres to block roads in the capital
N'Djamena early on Thursday, defying a government ban on the
protest.
"Our headquarters were ransacked and then set on fire this
morning," UNDR vice-president Celestin Topona told Reuters via
telephone.
Padacke's party headquarters were also attacked and set on fire,
spokesman Abbakar Sidick said.
Several protesters were wounded as police used force and tear
gas to break up gatherings throughout the city of around 100
people each.
Some protesters and posts on social media said live bullets were
fired, but Reuters could not independently verify that claim.
A local journalist was shot and died from his injuries a few
hours later, his brother said.
The government did not respond to a request for comment.
Security forces have cracked down on several civil society and
opposition-led protests denouncing the military takeover and
France's backing of the transitional government, sometimes
causing deaths in the process.
In May, police fired tear gas and used water canon to disperse
anti-French protests that saw the destruction of French-linked
businesses.
(Reporting by Mahamat RamadaneWriting by Sofia
ChristensenEditing by Nick Macfie)
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