Tchad denies civilian casualties in anti-jihadist military strikes
N’Djamena firmly rejects UN allegations of civilian harm in operations against Boko Haram.
Government pushes back on UN allegations
The Chadian government has strongly rebutted claims by the United Nations suggesting that civilian lives were lost during recent military operations against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. While rejecting the accusations outright, N’Djamena has signaled its willingness to conduct thorough investigations into the matter.
Tchad’s military stance under scrutiny
Government spokesperson Gassim Chérif Mahamat condemned the allegations as an attempt to „undermine the credibility of the Chadian armed forces.” He emphasized that the country’s military remains highly professional and remains fully committed to combating terrorism in both the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. These remarks follow a United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights statement reporting that airstrikes conducted by Chadian and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria resulted in multiple civilian casualties.
UN demands swift and impartial investigations
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called on Wednesday for rapid, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations by both Chadian and Nigerian authorities regarding the reported incidents. He urged military forces in both countries to take all necessary precautions to avoid civilian harm, emphasizing that military operations must adhere to international humanitarian law. „Civilians and their property must never be targeted,” Volker Türk stressed.
N’Djamena commits to transparency
Despite rejecting the accusations, the Chadian government has stated its readiness to conduct investigations. Gassim Chérif Mahamat reassured that the country possesses an independent judiciary capable of carrying out transparent probes. Nigeria, for its part, responded by asserting that its military had targeted a confirmed terrorist structure exclusively occupied by non-state armed groups.
The Lake Chad basin: a decade-long jihadist hotspot
For over fifteen years, the Lake Chad basin has been a central battleground against jihadist insurgencies in Africa. This sprawling, marshy region—shared by Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad—has become a refuge for fighters from Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Regional militaries continue to conduct regular counterterrorism operations in an environment marked by persistent insecurity.
