By John Ikani
A Geneva-based human rights group, the World Organization against Torture, has accused authorities in Chad of summary executions and torture after at least 50 people died and hundreds were injured in clashes between protesters and security forces.
The clashes took place on Thursday when demonstrators turned out on the streets, responding to an opposition call for peaceful protests to mark the date when the military had promised to hand over power.
The head of the military administration General Mahamat Idriss Deby has been in power since his father was killed in an operation against the rebels in April 2021.
Meanwhile, Déby has declared seven days of national mourning from Tuesday for the dozens of people killed during the pro-democracy protests.
In an address on Monday, Gen Déby said the protests were a “well-prepared insurrection” with the “support of foreign powers”.
He accused the demonstrators of having “coldly killed civilians” and “murdered” members of the security forces “in their barracks”, with “the manifest desire to start a civil war”.
The junta leader accused political actors in the country of seeking the support of “foreign powers” to exert pressure on him, but he did not offer details on the foreign powers.
“Outsiders have provided arms and money to opportunistic Chadians who have not hesitated for a moment to destroy the country to satisfy their interests and meet foreign agendas,” Gen Déby said.
