Chad’s government has vehemently dismissed allegations from the United Nations regarding civilian fatalities during anti-Boko Haram airstrikes in the Lake Chad basin. During a press briefing on Thursday, May 14, authorities demanded concrete evidence and extended an invitation for an independent investigative mission to visit the region.
The UN had previously stated on Sunday that air raids, reportedly conducted by Nigerian and Chadian forces, were responsible for approximately one hundred civilian deaths across northeastern Nigeria and Chad. These casualties, according to the UN, included individuals caught in operations targeting Boko Haram, prompting calls for a thorough inquiry.
For Gassim Chérif Mahamat, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, these accusations are entirely baseless. Expressing profound surprise, he noted that such serious allegations appeared designed to undermine the Chadian Army’s reputation, despite its pivotal role in the ongoing fight against terrorism across the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. He affirmed the Chadian Army’s professionalism and proven track record.
He further asserted that Chadian aerial operations specifically targeted areas devoid of any civilians or fishermen. Emphasizing the lack of formal evidence to substantiate the claims, he reiterated N’Djamena’s willingness to conduct its own investigations and to welcome the United Nations or any other international body to the field for independent inquiries.
The spokesperson underscored that the prevailing state of emergency in the affected region is specifically aimed at safeguarding the security and welfare of its inhabitants. Military and security forces maintain a constant presence there to uphold this objective.
He elaborated that the comprehensive strategy against Boko Haram is built upon two fundamental pillars: a robust security component and a vital socio-economic initiative. According to him, the government has made substantial investments in the area to counteract indoctrination, which often thrives amidst poverty and inadequate infrastructure.
Gassim Chérif Mahamat stressed that Chad bears a disproportionately heavy burden in this conflict, both through its population and its continuously mobilized army. He highlighted that Chad is not the sole riparian state of Lake Chad and maintains close cooperation with Nigeria in the collective effort to combat the pervasive threat of Boko Haram.
Just recently, on May 4 and 6, the jihadist group launched assaults on Chadian Army positions, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. N’Djamena firmly attributes the responsibility for these violent acts to Boko Haram, asserting that the Chadian Army is not the perpetrator.