The Chadian government has firmly rejected accusations by the United Nations that civilian casualties occurred during airstrikes against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. During a press briefing held this Thursday, May 14, officials demanded concrete evidence and offered to host an independent investigation team.
The UN had previously stated that airstrikes attributed to Nigeria and the Chadian Armed Forces resulted in nearly a hundred civilian deaths in northeastern Nigeria and Chad, some of which occurred during operations targeting Boko Haram. The international body called for an immediate inquiry into the incidents.
Gassim Chérif Mahamat, Chad’s Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, dismissed the claims as baseless. “We respond with surprise. These grave accusations aim to undermine the Chadian Army, despite its proven track record as a frontline force in the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin. This is a professional army that has demonstrated its capabilities,” he stated.
He further asserted that “there were neither civilians nor fishermen” in the areas targeted by Chadian aircraft. “As of now, no formal evidence supports these allegations,” he added, emphasizing that N’Djamena is willing to “conduct its own investigations and invite the United Nations or any other international body to conduct independent field inquiries.”
Security and socio-economic measures in the fight against Boko Haram
The government spokesperson reiterated that the ongoing state of emergency in the region is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of the population, with the military and security services maintaining a constant presence. He highlighted that combating Boko Haram involves two critical components: security measures and socio-economic development initiatives.
Chad has invested heavily in the region to counter the radicalization fueled by poverty and inadequate infrastructure. “Chad bears the heaviest burden, both in terms of its people and its army, which remains mobilized around the clock,” Mahamat emphasized. He also noted that the country is not the only Lake Chad basin state and collaborates closely with Nigeria in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.
On May 4 and 6, the jihadist group launched attacks on Chadian military positions, resulting in multiple casualties. The government insists that these acts of violence are the work of Boko Haram, not the Chadian Armed Forces.
