N’Djamena refutes un claims of civilian deaths in Lake Chad operations
Chad’s government has strongly refuted allegations of civilian casualties resulting from recent military operations in the Lake Chad region. Gassim Chérif Mahamat, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressed national media on Thursday, asserting that these claims are an attempt to undermine the integrity of the Chadian army.
“Such accusations are designed to discredit the Chadian military and could tarnish its reputation. The Chadian armed forces maintain their professionalism and remain at the forefront of the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and within the Lake Chad basin,” stated Mahamat.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had previously called for urgent “independent investigations” on Wednesday. His request followed reports of bombardments, attributed to Nigerian and Chadian forces, which allegedly resulted in dozens of fatalities in Nigeria’s northeastern territories. Türk emphasized the critical need for Nigerian and Chadian authorities to conduct swift, thorough, impartial, and independent inquiries into these deeply troubling incidents.
Conversely, the Nigerian military affirmed that its operations targeted a “confirmed terrorist structure, exclusively occupied by non-state armed actors who posed a direct threat to civilian lives.”
Authorities affirm commitment to transparency
Chadian government spokesperson Gassim Chérif Mahamat reiterated the authorities’ readiness to launch investigations, while simultaneously accusing Boko Haram of destabilizing community coexistence and terrorizing vulnerable populations daily in these fragile areas. “In the spirit of transparency, the Chadian state is prepared to conduct investigations. We possess an independent judiciary and institutions fully capable of carrying out transparent inquiries,” he elaborated.
Volker Türk had previously urged both nations’ armed forces to “take every possible precaution to avoid striking civilians,” underscoring that military operations must always adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights principles. He firmly insisted that “civilians and their property must never be targeted in attacks.”
The expansive body of water and marshlands, shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has tragically transformed into a jihadist stronghold since 2009. This volatile region now harbors fighters from both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
