The political situation is currently very tense due to an alleged coup attempt that recently sparked a wave of
threats, arrests, and suppression of independent voices, especially journalists and bloggers. Opposition
parliamentarians, journalists, university activists and human rights defenders continue to face harassment and
intimidation, and often arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, forced disappearance or even extrajudicial execution.
People are detained in secret detention facilities where visits by family and lawyers are not allowed, and where
torture and forced labor are routine. Calls for independent investigations into allegations of abuse on the part of
government security are ignored, and severe human rights abuses by the government continue with impunity. Despite
normalization of relations with Sudan and a peace treaty with leaders of some of the armed opposition groups, some
of the armed opposition groups are still active, and those opposing the government are frequently accused of
supporting them, whether or not there is any truth in the accusations. Human rights violations are committed with
almost total impunity by members of the Chadian military, the Presidential Guard, and the Agence Nationale de
Securité, who make arrests arbitrarily, without charge or trial, and there have been enforced disappearances. The
situation is again dangerous in the refugee camps of eastern Chad which house both those who have fled violence in
neighboring Darfur, and those internally displaced by conflict within Chad itself. Civilians and humanitarian
workers have been killed and abducted; women and girls are victims of rape and other violence; and children can
still be recruited as soldiers or abducted for ransom.
The Chadian prison system is in deep crisis and needs urgent and fundamental reforms. Prison conditions in Chad
are harsh and far below international standards. Most of the prisons, including the six prisons visited by Amnesty
International delegates in 2011 and 2012, were very old, dilapidated and overcrowded. Prisoners’ human rights
including the right to security of persons and freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
were often violated. In some cases, the detention conditions themselves amounted to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. Other human rights, such as the right to access adequate health services, medical care,
clean drinking water, food and sanitation as well as other basic facilities, were not respected. Men and women,
children and adults, civilians and soldiers, suspected and already sentenced prisoners, were mixed indiscriminately
together in the majority of the prisons.
Conditions in Chad
Independent journalists and bloggers like Eric Topona and Jean Laokolé face intimidation and arbitrary arrest by
government officials. In August 2010 Chad passed a new law that introduces prison sentences and a ban on
publication for “inciting racial, ethnic or religious hatred and condoning violence”. Opposition parliamentarians
like Dr. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, who disappeared at the hands of the security forces, university activists and
human rights defenders face harassment and intimidation, and often arbitrary arrest, detention, torture, forced
disappearance or even extrajudicial execution. Amnesty International calls on the Chadian authorities to conduct
prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all cases of enforced disappearance and allegations of torture,
and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice in proceedings which meet international fair trial
standards. Although forced evictions have slowed recently, victims of force eviction continue to deserve just
compensation and accountability for the eviction of several years ago.
torture
Laokolé charged and awaiting trial
ago
stop
International
Children as young as 10 have been recruited into armed groups as porters and messengers, and some between 13 and
17 have been recruited and used in combat roles by government forces as well. Recruitment has largely occurred in
IDP camps. A demobilization and reintegration program launched by the Chadian government with this assistance of
UNICEF has been hampered by a lack of government support. Although Amnesty International welcomes Chad’s signature
of the June 15, 2011 UN Action Plan to end the recruitment and the use of child soldiers, past efforts of this kind
have been hindered by inefficiency and a lack of both political will. To date, there have been no prosecutions of
members of the Chadian national army and armed opposition groups for using child combatants. In January 2011,
Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno ordered an amnesty for crimes committed by members of the armed opposition,
effectively perpetuating impunity for the human rights abuses against children used in hostilities. Amnesty
International is dismayed that President Barack Obama authorized a “national interest” waiver for the Republic of
Chad for the United States Child Soldiers Prevention Act, even as Chad’s national army and other security forces
continued to recruit underage combatants and hinder their rehabilitation. The United States Child Soldiers
Prevention Act, signed by President Obama in January 2009, specifically prohibits US military aid to countries
which use child soldiers.
Children recruited by armed forces and groups in eastern Chad
Under the terms of the current treaty, Sudan and Chad have promised not to harbor one another’s opposition
forces, and are now supposed to be protecting refugees and internally displaced persons on both side of the border
with Darfur. The IDPs are refugees from Chad’s own recent internal conflicts. Refugees continue to come to Chad,
reporting fighting in Darfur, while Sudan and Chad have begun the process of returning the refugees and IDPs to
their home villages, with no guarantees for their safety. Continued fighting, the proliferation of small arms, and
the lack of basic services such as water, health and education make IDPs reluctant to return to their homes. Human
rights abuses persist in the camps as well, including rape of girls and women, recruitment of children, kidnapping
of humanitarian personnel and killings of civilians. Tensions between Chad’s often ethnically-based political
alliances threaten to destabilize the region further.
of the Security Council. Protection of civilians in eastern Chad: Security Council must “remain actively seized of
the matter”
immediately repeal amnesty ordinance
The internally displaced in eastern Chad
Senegal must abide by the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and prosecute the former
president of Chad Hissène Habré on charges relating to large-scale human rights abuses during his time in
power.
Contracting out of Human Rights: The Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project highlights the potential dangers to human
rights posed by investment agreements underpinning the pipeline project, as well as the need for a new approach to
investment that ensures respect for human rights. Amnesty International is calling on the governments,
international financial institutions and companies involved in the Chad-Cameroon pipeline project to revise the
project agreements to include an explicit guarantee that nothing in the agreements can be used to undermine either
the human rights obligations of the states or the human rights responsibilities of the companies.
Authorities in Sub-Saharan Africa must take urgent action to protect people in detention from COVID-19, including releasing prisoners of conscience, reviewing cases of pre-trial detention, and guaranteeing access to healthcare and sanitation products in all facilities, Amnesty International said today.
The decision to grant reparation to thousands of victims in the case against former Chadian president Hissène Habrémarks a significant moment in their long and determined quest for justice, Amnesty International said today.
Today’s judgment convicting former Chadian president Hissène Habré marks a significant moment for international justice and a huge relief for the tens of thousands of victims who have waited for this day for over 25 years, said Amnesty International.
On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
Chadian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against a human rights defender sentenced to two-year imprisonment for peacefully expressing his views on the country’s judicial system.
This has been a devastating year for those seeking to stand up for human rights and for those caught up in the suffering of war zones. Governments pay lip service to the importance of protecting civilians. And yet the world's politicians have miserably failed to protect those in greatest need. Amnesty International believes that this can and must finally change.
Republic of Chad Head of state Idriss Déby Itno Head of government Emmanuel Djelassem Nadingar Trade unionists, journalists and human rights defenders were intimidated and the criminal justice system was …
On Monday, Feb. 12, International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, Amnesty International highlights the need to adopt a global Arms Trade Treaty to prevent government forces or armed groups – like those currently in Mali – from using weapons to recruit child soldiers.