Chad government denies UN accusations of civilian strikes in Lake Chad
N’Djamena firmly rejects claims of harming non-combatants during anti-terror operations.
Government stands by Chad’s armed forces
The Chadian government has strongly pushed back against allegations from the United Nations that civilian casualties resulted from military operations targeting Boko Haram fighters in the Lake Chad region. Speaking on Thursday, government spokesperson Gassim Chérif Mahamat condemned what he called attempts to undermine the credibility of Chad’s armed forces, emphasizing their professionalism and unwavering commitment to combating terrorism across the Sahel and Lake Chad basin.
These remarks follow a statement from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reporting that airstrikes carried out by Chadian and Nigerian forces in northeast Nigeria may have resulted in multiple civilian deaths. The alleged incidents have drawn international concern over compliance with international humanitarian law.
UN calls for transparent investigations
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a statement on Wednesday urging authorities in Chad and Nigeria to conduct swift, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into the reported strikes. Türk also stressed the need for military forces to take maximum precautions to avoid civilian harm, reaffirming that “civilians and civilian infrastructure must never be targeted.”
Chad expresses willingness to probe claims
Despite rejecting the accusations, Chad’s government has signaled its readiness to investigate the allegations. Mahamat highlighted the country’s independent judiciary as capable of conducting transparent inquiries. Nigeria’s military also responded, asserting that its strikes targeted confirmed terrorist structures exclusively occupied by non-state armed groups.
The Lake Chad basin: a decade-long jihadist stronghold
For over fifteen years, the Lake Chad basin has remained a critical flashpoint for jihadist activity in Africa. This vast, marshy region—shared by Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad—has become a haven for Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants. Regional militaries continue to conduct regular operations in the area amid persistent security instability.
