On June 1, 2026, Chadian Minister of Public Security and Immigration, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache, engaged with senators to address ongoing concerns about violence and insecurity across the nation. This session, presided over by Senate President Dr. Haroun Kabadi, specifically responded to an oral question posed by Senator M. Mbaigolmen Sébastien regarding persistent unrest.

Dr. Haroun Kabadi opened the discussion by acknowledging that despite significant deployments of defense and security forces throughout various provinces, numerous conflicts persist. He cited tragic incidents in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Salamat in June 2025, and Hadjar-Lamis on November 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in multiple fatalities. Additionally, Dr. Kabadi recalled a specific conflict between herders and farmers in Mandakao, Logone Occidental province, on May 14, 2025, which was later resolved through an agreement signed on July 5, 2025.

General Ali Ahmat Aghabache, Minister of Security and Immigration, directly addressed Senator Mbaigolmen Sébastien’s inquiry by elucidating the root causes of intercommunal strife. He explained that these conflicts frequently revolve around access to vital resources like water and land, alongside persistent tensions between agricultural communities and nomadic herders. Before delving into details, the Minister conveyed profound sympathy, observing a moment of silence for citizens who lost their lives or suffered injuries in these widespread clashes. He expressed a desire for the Senator’s question to encompass the broader scope of communal conflicts, not just in Dougui, Logone Occidental, but also in regions such as Mayo-Kebbi, Wadi, Sila, Bahr El-Ghazal, Salamat, and the more recent incidents in Wadi Fira. “We stand in solidarity with the grieving families and extend our heartfelt condolences to all victims of this violence,” he stated. He further pledged his department’s full commitment to developing clear responses and tangible solutions to the nation’s Chad security challenges.

The Security Minister reassured the assembly that national security is largely maintained, though he openly acknowledged the presence of specific “pockets of insecurity.” Minister Aghabache articulated that “no nation globally experiences a state of absolute security or a complete absence of threats.” He emphasized that while security forces are crucial for containing violence, these complex tensions, frequently manipulated or exploited at a local level, necessitate more than just a security response; they demand comprehensive political and social solutions for lasting peace in the Sahel region.

Despite isolated incidents, he stressed that conflict prevention and resolution strategies remain the most effective approach to tackling the issue at its core. He then outlined the key factors contributing to the escalation and persistence of violence across various Chadian provinces:

• Conflicts over Natural Resources: During the rainy season, particularly in the eastern, southern, and central regions, tensions and violent acts intensify due to livestock encroaching on agricultural lands. These disputes often escalate into violent retaliations rather than being resolved through peaceful negotiation.
• Scarcity of Land and Water: Climate change and drought in northern areas have diminished pastoral resources, compelling herders to migrate southward. Concurrently, population growth and expanding cultivated areas exert immense pressure on both agricultural and pastoral lands, fueling intercommunal conflicts.
• Absence of Clear Resource Regulation and Legal Gaps: The lack of precise mapping for transhumance routes, undefined land rights, and ambiguous agricultural zones creates a legal void that exacerbates disagreements between communities.
• Demographic Expansion: A growing population translates into heightened demand for pastures, water, food, and land, further straining fragile ecosystems and local communities.
• Political Exploitation of Tribal Loyalties: Certain political figures capitalize on tribal affiliations to garner support, enhance their influence, or secure personal and political advantages, thereby intensifying local tensions and clashes.
• Ethnic Diversity and Tribal Structures: Chadian society is remarkably diverse, comprising over 200 ethnic groups. The strong emphasis on tribal identity over national allegiance has weakened the sense of state belonging and collective citizenship.
• Impact of Regional Security Dynamics and Border Conflicts: The unchecked flow of light weapons across borders has provided local communities with access to deadly automatic firearms, significantly increasing the intensity and human cost of traditional disputes.
• Disputes over Land Ownership and Historical Boundaries: These long-standing issues between various social groups contribute to ongoing friction. In 2025 alone, the cumulative human toll from these conflicts reached 318 fatalities and 315 injuries.

Senators then posed several critical questions to the Minister, focusing on the provinces most severely impacted by violence, the specific measures being implemented to curb unrest in various Chadian villages and provinces, and the pervasive issue of light weapons proliferation. While acknowledging and commending the Minister’s department for its efforts in combating insecurity nationwide, the senators collectively underscored that substantial work remains. In his response regarding intercommunal conflicts, the Security Minister implored local leaders, traditional chiefs, and elected representatives to intensify their focus on fostering awareness about the importance of peaceful coexistence and social cohesion as a means to avert further clashes. He also provided an overview of police and gendarmerie operations conducted between 2024 and 2025, revealing the seizure of over 4,000 weapons, the arrest of more than 1,300 bandits, and the confiscation of significant quantities of illicit drugs.

Further questions addressed by the Minister included incidents of kidnapping for ransom, particularly in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, and the abduction of children by the Boko Haram sect in the Lake province. Senator Mariam Ahmat Djamil specifically highlighted the troubling presence of unidentified foreign individuals within Chad, identifying this as a significant source of insecurity. Regarding the establishment of new police stations to enhance security, the Minister affirmed his department’s dedicated efforts. He cited the recent creation of several police stations and companies in Abéché, Ouaddaï province, as a successful initiative that has notably reduced insecurity in that region.