Deaths Resulting From Violent Resistence to Protests Must be Examined in Chad: Amnesty

Following the deaths of at least five demonstrators yesterday (April 27) and the declaration of new protests today by Chad’s opposition and civil society groups, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Deputy Director, said,“Yesterday’s protests in Chad have led to the death of at least five people, according to the authorities. Many more people were also injured and arrested.”

“We urge authorities to launch impartial and independent investigations into the circumstances of these deaths and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible of unlawful killing.”

According to him,these protests are happening in response to the seizure of power by a Transitional Military Council (CMT in French), two weeks ago, after Chad’s President Idriss Déby died.

Following the takeover of power by the CMT led by Mahamat Idriss Déby, the son of President Idriss Déby, a coalition of civil society organisations and opposition parties known as ‘Wakit Tama’- meaning the time has come in local Arabic- called for protests yesterday, denouncing what they term a “institutional coup” and “dynastic succession.”

According to prosecutors, the CMT has outlawed demonstrations, and security forces have repressed demonstrators, resulting in four deaths in the capital N’Djamena and one in the southern town of Moundou. Nine people died, according to the Chadian Convention on Human Rights, which is a part of the ‘Waakit Tama’ party.

Today, ‘Wakit Tama’ has issued a new call for more demonstrations. Amnesty International reported a steadily decreasing political and public space in Chad earlier this year, citing protest bans and unlawful arrests as examples.

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