The government of Chad has denied allegations that its military deliberately targeted civilians during recent operations against Boko Haram militants around the Lake Chad region.
The denial came after reports emerged that dozens of people were ed during separate airstrikes carried out by Nigerian and Chadian forces last week. The incidents prompted the United Nations human rights chief to call for independent investigations into the s.
According to local sources quoted by AFP, as many as 40 fishermen operating on Lake Chad were reported missing following the ings. The reports sparked concerns among residents and humanitarian organisations over the safety of civilians living in the conflict affected region.
Chad’s Minister of Communication Gassim Cherif Mahamat rejected the accusations during a media briefing, describing the claims as attempts to damage the reputation of the Chadian military.
He insisted that the Chadian armed forces remain professional and committed to the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. Mahamat also stated that Boko Haram militants continue to terrorise communities in the region, making military operations necessary.
Despite rejecting claims of intentionally targeting civilians, the minister said the Chadian government is open to conducting investigations into the incident. He added that Chad has independent judicial institutions capable of handling transparent inquiries.
Meanwhile the Nigerian military also maintained that its operations specifically targeted jihadist fighters operating within the Lake Chad area near Nigeria’s northeastern border with Chad Cameroon and Niger.
Boko Haram has carried out insurgent s across the region since 2009 leading to thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. The conflict has also expanded with the emergence of the Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP, a splinter group active in the area.
Security challenges around the Lake Chad Basin continue to affect millions of residents despite ongoing regional military efforts to defeat extremist groups.
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