Political violence erupts in Chad
Violence erupted in Chad this week shortly after the country's elections agency confirmed dates for a May presidential poll, which is supposed to restore democracy after three years of junta rule. Feb. 28 saw an armed attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency (ANSE), which the government blamed on followers of the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF), the main opposition party in Chad. The PSF denied the charge. But the following day party leader Yaya Dillo—a vocal critic of ruler Gen. Mahamat Idriss Déby—was killed alongside dozens of the others in a shoot-out with security forces at the PSF headquarters in the capital, N'Djamena.
Déby seized power in 2021 after his father, Idriss Déby, was killed while commanding troops combating a rebel offensive. The younger Déby's regime has received support from former colonial power France, and he has consolidated power by co-opting armed groups and dissidents. Still, Déby’s rule faces resistance from opposition movements, and tensions have grown as his government has allowed Chadian territory to be used as an arms supply corridor for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in neighboring Sudan.
Adapted from The New Humanitarian, March 1
Post-electoral debacle in Chad
President Mahamat Idriss Déby has won a presidential election in Chad, according to the country’s election body, but the main opposition candidate has also declared himself the winner. Déby seized power in 2021 after his father was killed while commanding troops combating a rebel offensive. (TNH)
Detained relatives of slain Chad opposition leader face trial
Chad authorities must guarantee fair trial rights for the detained relatives of opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djerou, killed during an assault on the headquarters of the Socialist Party without Borders headquarters in February, Amnesty International urged May 28. The 26 relatives have been detained incommunicado since the military assault which led to their arrest. Chad authorities are yet to offer details around the circumstances of Djerou's assassination, and judicial authorities remain silent on the future of the detainees. (Jurist)
Relatives of slain Chad opposition leader still detained
Amnesty International on Dec. 9 called upon Chad authorities to "immediately release" the relatives of killed opposition party leader Yaya Dillo Djerou, who remain detained despite being acquitted. (Jurist)