Responding to the first anniversary of the repression of protests against a proposed two-year extension of President Mahamat Idriss Deby’s term in office, which left more than 100 people dead and nearly a thousand injured, Samira Daoud, Director of Amnesty International’s Regional Office for West and Central Africa said:
“One year on from the repression of the 20 October protests, the thirst for justice of the victims and their families remains unquenched. Despite the authorities’ immediate promise of an inquiry, all we have seen up to now is unfair trials behind closed doors of demonstrators and the absence of serious investigations into the alleged perpetrators of the killings and injuries.
It is imperative that the Chadian authorities respect their commitment to justice, by conducting a prompt, impartial and thorough investigation to determine the circumstances in which people were killed and injured. These gatherings were suppressed by security forces who are responsible for the unlawful use of lethal weapons and must be held accountable.
Samira Daoud, Director of Amnesty International's Regional Office for West and Central Africa
“We also call on the authorities to respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and international law and standards on the use of force and firearms.
Background
On October 20, 2022, members of the opposition protested the two-year extension of the political transition, decided following a national dialogue in September 2022. The security forces responded by using live ammunition against the demonstrators, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. According to a preliminary assessment by the National Human Rights Commission, there were at least 128 deaths, 12 missing persons, 518 injured, 943 arrests and 265 convictions.
On 21 October 2022, the Minister of Justice announced the opening of an inquiry, but since then, there has been no public information on its progress or findings.