Tchad denies civilian targeting in anti-Boko Haram strikes

N’Djamena, May 15 — The Chadian government has forcefully rejected accusations from the United Nations regarding civilian casualties during recent military operations against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. While maintaining its stance, N’Djamena has indicated openness to conducting thorough investigations.

Government defends military integrity

The Chadian government spokesperson, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, condemned what he described as attempts to « undermine the credibility of the Chadian armed forces ». He emphasized that the military remains « highly professional » and fully committed to combating terrorism across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. These remarks follow a United Nations human rights report alleging that Chadian and Nigerian airstrikes in northeastern Nigeria resulted in civilian fatalities.

UN calls for swift, impartial investigations

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged authorities in both Chad and Nigeria to launch « prompt, comprehensive, independent, and impartial » inquiries into the incidents. He stressed the obligation of military forces to take « all possible precautions » to prevent civilian harm, reiterating that « civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted » under international humanitarian law.

Chad commits to transparent probes

Despite dismissing the accusations, Chad’s government affirmed its willingness to investigate. Gassim Chérif Mahamat highlighted the country’s « independent judiciary » as capable of conducting transparent inquiries. For its part, Nigeria’s military asserted that its strikes targeted « confirmed terrorist structures » exclusively occupied by non-state armed groups.

The Lake Chad basin: a jihadist stronghold for over a decade

For more than fifteen years, the Lake Chad basin has emerged as a major jihadist hub in Africa. This marshy region, spanning Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, has become a refuge for Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters. Regional armies conduct frequent military operations in this unstable security environment to counter these armed groups.

• Chad
• Nigeria
• Military operations
• Lake Chad region
• Boko Haram
• Civilian protection