N’Djamena defends its armed forces

The Chadian government spokesperson, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, strongly condemned on Thursday accusations that could, in his view, « undermine the reputation of the Chadian armed forces ». He emphasized that the country’s military remains « professional and fully committed » to combating terrorism across the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. These remarks follow a United Nations Human Rights Office statement reporting airstrikes attributed to Chadian and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria, allegedly resulting in dozens of civilian deaths.

UN calls for independent investigations

On Wednesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Chadian and Nigerian authorities to conduct « swift, thorough, independent, and impartial » inquiries into the incidents. He also called on the armed forces of both nations to « exercise maximum caution » to avoid civilian casualties, stressing that military operations must comply with international humanitarian law. « Civilians and their property must never be targeted, » he emphasized.
 

Chad expresses readiness to investigate

While rejecting the allegations, the Chadian government affirmed its willingness to conduct investigations. Gassim Chérif Mahamat stated that the country possesses an « independent judiciary » capable of carrying out transparent probes. Nigeria also responded, with its military asserting that its strikes targeted a « confirmed terrorist structure » exclusively occupied by non-state armed groups.

The Lake Chad basin: a long-standing jihadist hotspot

For over fifteen years, the Lake Chad basin has been a major jihadist stronghold in Africa. This vast, marshy region spanning Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad has served as a refuge for Boko Haram fighters and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Regional militaries conduct frequent operations against armed groups in this increasingly volatile security environment.