N’Djamena defends Tchad’s armed forces
The government spokesperson for Tchad, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, condemned on Thursday allegations that he described as attempts to « undermine the credibility of Tchad’s military ». He emphasized that the country’s armed forces remain « highly professional » and fully committed to combating terrorism across the Sahel and the Lake Tchad region. These remarks follow a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which reported that air strikes conducted by the Tchadian and Nigerian militaries in northeastern Nigeria resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.
UN calls for independent investigations
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged authorities in Tchad and Nigeria on Wednesday to launch « swift, thorough, independent, and impartial » investigations into the incidents. He also called on the armed forces of both nations to take « all possible precautions » to avoid civilian harm, stressing that military operations must comply with international humanitarian law. « Civilians and their property must never be targeted in attacks », he emphasized.
Tchad expresses readiness for investigations
Despite rejecting the allegations, the Tchadian government stated its willingness to conduct inquiries. Gassim Chérif Mahamat assured that the country possesses an « independent judiciary » capable of carrying out transparent investigations. Nigeria also responded, with its military asserting that it had targeted a « confirmed terrorist structure » exclusively occupied by non-state armed groups.
The Lake Tchad basin: a long-standing jihadist hotspot
For over fifteen years, the Lake Tchad basin has been a major jihadist stronghold in Africa. This marshy region, spanning Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Tchad, has served as a refuge for fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Regional militaries conduct regular operations against armed groups in this unstable security context.
