N’Djamena stands by its armed forces

In a sharp rebuttal issued Thursday, Chad’s government spokesperson, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, condemned accusations he described as an attempt to « undermine the credibility of Chad’s military ». He emphasized that the country’s armed forces maintain « professionalism and unwavering commitment » in the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and the Lake Chad region. These remarks follow a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reporting that airstrikes attributed to Chadian and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria may have resulted in dozens of civilian fatalities.

UN urges independent probes into alleged civilian deaths

Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Wednesday for « swift, thorough, independent and impartial investigations » into the reported incidents. He also urged both Chadian and Nigerian armed forces to « take all feasible precautions » to prevent civilian harm, stressing that military operations must comply with international humanitarian law. « Civilians and civilian property must never be the target of attacks », he emphasized.
 

Chad expresses readiness to investigate

Despite rejecting the allegations, Chad’s government has pledged to initiate investigations. Gassim Chérif Mahamat reassured that the nation possesses « an independent judiciary » capable of conducting transparent probes. Nigeria has also responded, with its military asserting that its strikes targeted a « confirmed terrorist facility » exclusively used by non-state armed groups.

The Lake Chad basin: a long-standing jihadist stronghold

For over fifteen years, the Lake Chad basin has emerged as one of Africa’s most critical jihadist hotspots. This vast wetland straddling Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad has become a refuge for Boko Haram fighters and members of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Regional militaries conduct frequent operations against these armed groups amid an increasingly volatile security environment.