This week, the Chadian judiciary resumed the trial of 398 Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebels accused of involvement in the assassination of former President Idriss Déby in an attack that was launched from Libyan territory nearly two years ago.

The trial resumed on Monday behind closed doors and within the walls of Klessoum prison, about 10 km southeast of Chad's capital, N'Djamena.

The judges proceeded to hear 398 defendants out of a total of 454 accused, who are being tried on charges of "terrorism, mercenary work, enlistment of children, attack on national security and assassination."

In the event that charges are proven against the defendants, they will be sentenced to life in prison.

Transitional Chadian President, Mahamat Idriss Déby, had previously promised to grant amnesty to a number of members of the FACT rebel group but that has yet to come to fruition.

More than 30 rebel and opposition factions signed a peace pact with Chad's transitional authorities in August of 2022, agreeing to join broader talks after years of turmoil, though FACT refused to take part.

18 months after the death of President Idriss Déby, negotiations between the main rebel movement and the Chadian government have reached an impasse. FACT rejected the August 2022 deal, saying negotiators had not listened to its demands, including for the release of prisoners.