N’Djamena dismisses un allegations of civilian deaths in lake Chad air strikes

In a strong rebuttal, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, Chad’s Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressed national media on Thursday, asserting that recent allegations were designed to tarnish the reputation of the Chadian army. He emphasized that these claims could undermine its integrity, stating, “These accusations aim to discredit the Chadian army and can harm its dignity. The Chadian armed forces remain professional and are at the forefront of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin.”

Meanwhile, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called on Wednesday for “independent” investigations into alleged bombings by Nigerian and Chadian forces. These incidents reportedly resulted in dozens of fatalities in northeastern Nigeria. “It is crucial that Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct swift, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents,” Türk declared in an official statement.

For its part, the Nigerian military maintained that its operations targeted a “confirmed terrorist structure, exclusively occupied by non-state armed actors who posed a direct threat to civilian lives.”

N’Djamena pledges commitment to transparency

Gassim Chérif Mahamat, the Chadian government spokesperson, reiterated N’Djamena’s readiness to initiate inquiries. He also accused Boko Haram of disrupting coexistence among communities and subjecting vulnerable populations to daily terror in affected regions. He explained, “In a spirit of transparency, the Chadian state is prepared to conduct investigations. We possess an independent judiciary and institutions capable of carrying out inquiries with full transparency.”

Volker Türk had previously urged the armed forces of both nations to “take every possible precaution to avoid striking civilians.” He underscored that military operations must always adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights principles. “Civilians and their property must never be targets of attacks,” he firmly insisted.

This expansive area of water and marshlands, bordering Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has transformed into a significant jihadist stronghold since 2009. It harbors combatants from both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).