Chad dismisses un allegations of civilian casualties in anti-Boko Haram operations
The Chadian government has firmly rejected recent United Nations allegations concerning civilian fatalities resulting from aerial bombardments targeting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin. During a press briefing held on Thursday, May 14, officials demanded concrete evidence and extended an invitation for an independent investigative mission to visit the region.
The United Nations had previously stated on Sunday that airstrikes, reportedly carried out by Nigerian and Chadian forces, were responsible for approximately one hundred civilian deaths across northeastern Nigeria and Chad. Some of these casualties, the UN contended, occurred during operations specifically aimed at Boko Haram, prompting their call for a thorough inquiry.
For Gassim Chérif Mahamat, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, these accusations are entirely baseless. He expressed profound astonishment, stating, “These serious allegations are designed to undermine the Chadian Army’s credibility, even as it stands on the front lines in the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and within the Lake Chad Basin. Our army is a professional force with a proven track record.”
Minister Mahamat asserted that the areas targeted by Chadian air assets contained “neither civilians nor fishermen.” He further emphasized that “currently, no formal evidence substantiates these claims,” adding that N’Djamena is prepared to “conduct its own investigations and extend an invitation to the United Nations or any other international body to visit the field and carry out independent inquiries.”
The spokesperson reiterated that the ongoing state of emergency in the region is specifically aimed at safeguarding the security and welfare of the local populace. To this end, the army and security services maintain a constant presence and deployment.
He also underscored that the comprehensive strategy against Boko Haram is built upon two fundamental pillars: robust security measures and significant socio-economic development. According to the minister, the state has made substantial investments in the area to counteract the indoctrination often fueled by pervasive poverty and insufficient infrastructure.
“Chad bears the heaviest burden, both through its population and its constantly mobilized army,” Gassim Chérif Mahamat stressed. He reminded listeners that Chad is not the sole riparian state of Lake Chad and maintains close cooperation with Nigeria in the ongoing battle against the Boko Haram insurgency.
On May 4 and 6, the jihadist group had launched assaults on Chadian Army positions, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. From N’Djamena’s perspective, Boko Haram is unequivocally responsible for the violence plaguing the region, not the Chadian Army.
