Amnesty calls for impartial investigations into deaths of protesters in Chad

Chad’s opposition and civil society organisations announced new protests on Wednesday.

CAPE TOWN, April 28 (ANA) – Human rights organisation Amnesty International on Wednesday urged authorities to launch impartial and independent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of five people who died on Tuesday during a protest against Chad’s military rule.

“Yesterday’s protests in Chad have led to the death of at least five people, according to the authorities. Many more people were also injured and arrested,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa deputy director.

“We urge authorities to launch impartial and independent investigations into the circumstances of these deaths and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible for unlawful killing,” he said.

At least five people were killed in Chad as demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday, demanding a return to civilian rule after the military took control following President Idriss Déby’s death last week, according to international broadcaster Al Jazeera.

“There were four deaths in N’Djamena,” including “one killed by the demonstrators”, the capital’s prosecutor Youssouf Tom was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. One person was killed in the country’s second city Moundou, 400km to the south, another prosecutor said.

The 68-year-old Déby was killed on the battlefield last week. He died of injuries sustained on the front line while fighting rebels in the north of the Sahel, according to army spokesperson General Azem Bermandoa Agouna.

Déby had been in power for three decades and was looking to extend his three-decade rule despite mounting calls for political change.

A military council seized power after Déby was killed, a move that the opposition politicians have called a “coup”.

The move was followed by a charter released by the presidency on Wednesday stating that his son General Mahamat Idriss Déby will take over as president of the country in place of his father.

The 37-year-old was swiftly named transitional leader of a military council and will occupy the functions of the president of the republic while also serving as head of the armed forces.

“These protests are happening in response to the seizure of power by a Transitional Military Council (CMT), two weeks ago, after Chad’s President Idriss Déby died,” Sivieude, said.

“As opposition and civil society organisations have renewed their call for new protests today, authorities must ensure people can safely exercise their right to peaceful assembly.

“No one should face arrest for simply exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression and all those detained for that reason should be immediately and unconditionally released,” he said.

Chad’s opposition and civil society organisations announced new protests on Wednesday, according to Amnesty.

A coalition of civil society organizations and opposition parties also known as ‘Wakit Tama’ – meaning the time has come in local Arabic language – called for protests on Tuesday denouncing what they consider an “institutional coup” and “dynastic succession” following the seizure of power by the military council headed by Déby’s son.

The government of Chad on Monday’s statement banned protests, saying no demonstrations that could lead to disorder were allowed while the country was still in mourning.

The country also banned public demonstrations ahead of the April 11 general election.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay