The Chadian government has strongly refuted accusations by the United Nations that civilians were killed during airstrikes targeting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad basin. During a press briefing on May 14, officials demanded concrete evidence and offered to host an independent investigation team.
Last Sunday, the UN reported that airstrikes allegedly carried out by Nigeria and the Chadian military resulted in around a hundred civilian casualties in northeastern Nigeria and Chad. Some of these strikes were said to be aimed at Boko Haram strongholds, prompting calls for an official inquiry.
Chérif Mahamat Gassim, the government’s spokesperson and Minister of Communication, dismissed the allegations as baseless. « We are genuinely surprised by these serious accusations, which seem designed to undermine the Chadian military’s reputation, » he stated. « Our armed forces are at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, and their professionalism is beyond question. »
He insisted that the areas targeted by Chadian airstrikes « contained no civilians or fishermen ». « There is currently no verifiable evidence to support these claims, » he added, emphasizing that N’Djamena is prepared to « conduct its own investigations and invite the UN or any other international body to independently assess the situation on the ground ».
The spokesperson also highlighted the ongoing state of emergency in the region, which is designed to protect civilians and maintain security. The military and security services remain permanently deployed in the area to counter threats.
According to him, the fight against Boko Haram is built on two pillars: military action and socio-economic development. The government has invested heavily in the region to combat radicalization, which thrives in areas plagued by poverty and limited infrastructure.
« Chad bears the heaviest burden in this conflict, » stressed Gassim Chérif Mahamat. « Our population and military are constantly mobilized in this fight. » He also pointed out that Chad, as one of the Lake Chad basin countries, works closely with Nigeria to dismantle Boko Haram’s operations.
On May 4 and 6, the jihadist group launched attacks on Chadian military positions, resulting in casualties. N’Djamena firmly believes these acts of violence are the work of Boko Haram, not the Chadian military.
