By Hassan Abderamane

On June 1, 2026, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache, Chad’s Minister of Public Security and Immigration, addressed senators regarding ongoing violence and insecurity across the nation. His appearance before the Senate, presided over by Dr. Haroun Kabadi, was prompted by an oral question with debate initiated by Senator M. Mbaigolmen Sébastien.

Dr. Haroun Kabadi, the Senate President, opened the session by acknowledging the continued reports of conflicts in various provinces, despite the deployment of defense and security forces. He cited specific incidents, including those in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Salamat in June 2025, and Hadjar-Lamis on November 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in multiple fatalities. A notable clash between herders and farmers occurred in Mandakao, Logone Occidental province, on May 14, 2025, eventually leading to an agreement signed on July 5, 2025.

Responding to Senator Mbaigolmen Sébastien’s inquiry, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache clarified that intercommunal conflicts primarily stem from disputes over water points, land, and tensions between agriculturalists and pastoralists. Before delving into specifics, the Minister expressed profound sympathy and observed a moment of silence for all citizens who have lost their lives or suffered temporary or permanent disabilities due to these conflicts. He articulated a desire for the Senator’s question to encompass the broader issue of communal violence, extending beyond Dougui in Logone Occidental to include departments like Mayo-Kebbi, Wadi, Sila, Bahr El-Ghazal, Salamat, and most recently, Wadi Fira. “We share the grief of the bereaved families and extend our sincere compassion to all victims of these acts of violence,” he stated.

The Minister reaffirmed his department’s unwavering commitment to providing clear answers and implementing concrete solutions to the security challenges confronting Chad.

While acknowledging the presence of isolated “pockets of insecurity,” the Minister assured the assembly that overall security within the country remains robust. General Aghabache emphasized that “nowhere in the world does a situation of perfectly absolute security or a complete absence of insecurity exist.”

He further stressed that these tensions, often exploited or manipulated at the local level, cannot be resolved solely through security presence. Instead, security measures primarily aim to contain violence and establish conditions conducive to sustainable political and social resolutions.

Despite the persistence of some isolated incidents, strategies focused on preventing and resolving communal conflicts are considered the most effective approach to addressing the root causes of the problem. The Minister outlined several factors contributing to the escalation and persistence of violence across different provinces:

• Conflicts over Natural Resources: Violence intensifies during the rainy season in eastern, southern, and central Chad, often due to livestock damaging crops. These disputes frequently escalate into violent acts of revenge rather than peaceful resolution.
• Land and Water Scarcity: Climate change and drought in northern regions have diminished pastoral resources, compelling herders to migrate southward. Concurrently, population growth and expanding cultivated areas intensify pressure on agricultural and pastoral lands, fueling conflicts between local communities.
• Lack of Clear Resource Regulation and Legal Vacuum: The absence of precise maps delineating transhumance corridors, land rights, and agricultural zones creates a legal void that exacerbates disagreements among groups.
• Demographic Growth: An increasing population drives greater demand for pastures, water, food, and land, placing immense pressure on fragile ecosystems and local communities.
• Political Exploitation of Tribal Affiliations: Certain political actors manipulate tribal loyalties to garner support, enhance their influence, or secure personal or political advantages, thereby intensifying local tensions and conflicts.
• Ethnic Diversity and Tribal Structure: Chadian society is remarkably complex, comprising over 200 ethnic groups. The strong emphasis on tribal identity over national identity has weakened the sense of belonging to the state and the concept of citizenship.
• Influence of Neighboring Countries’ Security Situations and Regional Conflicts: The cross-border flow of light weapons has provided local communities with access to deadly automatic firearms, escalating the intensity of traditional conflicts and increasing their human cost.
• Conflicts over Land Ownership and Historical Boundaries: The cumulative human toll from these conflicts in 2025 reached 318 deaths and 315 injuries.

Senators posed numerous questions to the Minister, inquiring about the provinces most affected by violence, the specific measures or mechanisms implemented to reduce violence in certain areas, and the issue of light weapons proliferation.

While acknowledging and commending the Minister’s efforts in combating insecurity, the senators underscored that significant work remains to be done.

In response to questions concerning intercommunal conflicts, the Minister urged local officials, traditional leaders, and elected representatives to prioritize raising awareness about the importance of peaceful coexistence and social cohesion to prevent such clashes. He also provided an update on police and gendarmerie operations conducted between 2024 and 2025, which resulted in the seizure of over 4,000 weapons, the arrest of more than 1,300 criminals, and the confiscation of substantial quantities of drugs.

Further questions addressed by the Minister included kidnappings for ransom, particularly in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, and child abductions by Boko Haram in Lac province. Senator Mariam Ahmat Djamil raised concerns about the alarming presence of unidentified foreign individuals in Chad, deeming it a source of insecurity.

Regarding the establishment of new police stations to enhance security, the Minister confirmed his department’s commitment to this initiative. He highlighted recent efforts in Abéché, Ouaddaï province, where the creation of several police stations and companies has notably reduced insecurity in the region for some time.