Protect the right to life and justice in Chad

Deadly clashes between herders and farmers are multiplying in Chad. Families are being decimated, villages are being burned, and tens of thousands of people are now living in fear and harsh conditions. The Chadian government must act now to end the violence, protect civilians and ensure justice for victims. Sign this petition to call for urgent action before more lives are lost.

What’s the problem?

Cases of violence between herders and farmers have increased in recent years. Of these, Amnesty International has documented seven episodes of violence between herders and farmers between 2022 and 2024 that left at least 98 people dead, more than 100 injured and destroyed more than 600 homes in the provinces of Moyen-Chari, Mandoul, Logone Oriental and Logone Occidental.

This violence is caused by the scarcity of land and water, climate degradation and population growth, which create competition for access to natural resources. The proliferation of weapons and the lack of effective prevention and mediation mechanisms exacerbate tensions between herders and farmers.

The violence has worsened amid a lack of adequate response from the authorities. In several documented cases, security forces did not provide adequate protection, either by arriving too late or by not intervening.

In the village of Bedoli 2, a survivor recounts:

“I didn’t think I’d survive. I was with my husband and others in the house when the attackers opened fire. They then set fire to the house while continuing to shoot. I no longer have the resources to take care of the children.”

In Sandana, another victim confided:

“We have lost everything: our fields, our houses, our animals.”

These stories reflect the extent of the desperation felt by communities abandoned to their fate.

Many victims’ families have not received justice or reparation, and some of the perpetrators of this violence are moving freely. This impunity fuels tensions and a cycle of reprisals.

The right to life, security and justice are guaranteed by the Chadian Constitution and the international treaties that Chad has ratified. Failure to respect them undermines citizens’ trust in the authorities and weakens the rule of law in the long term.

What can you do?

Sign this petition to call on the Chadian authorities to act immediately to guarantee the protection of the population and to bring justice to the victims of violence between herders and farmers.

We call for those responsible for these deadly attacks to be prosecuted, independent investigations to be carried out and for the victims to be compensated.

Because living off the land should never mean dying for it.