House Raids Continue in Chad

By Meryl White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Western and Central Africa

N’DJAMA, Chad – The government of Chad will continue to search for rebels in the capital, N’Djamena, by using the method of “house to house” searches. Many of the searches have produced child rebels, who after detection, were paraded in front of reporters and journalists.

The rebels who are eighteen have not received any special treatment upon detection. The government has referred to the juvenile rebels as “child mercenaries,” rather than “child soldier.”

The government insists that house to house raids will last until every rebel is found. Moreover, officials announced that any person hiding a rebel in their home will be treated like a rebel themselves.

Chad’s former colonial power, France, has helped in the transport of materials and weapons to Chad’s army. France has acted in accordance with a military co-operation agreement between the two nations.

French military spokesman, Cmdr. Christophe Prazuck, stated that French forces opened fire “about 10 times” during the violence, but only in self-defense. Also, there was no fire from French airpower.

Presently, the government is trying to determine the location of three key opposition leaders who are in hiding.  A spokesman for Mr Choua’s Assembly for Democracy and Progress, reported to AFP news agency that the leaders were “kidnapped by about 15 soldiers from the presidential guard.”

France and Amnesty International, a human rights advocacy organization, have expressed their concern over the whereabouts of the three missing opposition leaders. Former President Lol Mahamat Choua, is one of the opposition leaders who had disappeared while rebels were attacking the city. The other two are opposition alliance spokesman Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and veteran Ngarlejy Yorongar.

Presently, there is major concern for victims of the violence, as many are fearful to return to their homes in N’Djama. “We are afraid to go back,” 20-year-old N’djamena resident Patrice Djerane who is hiding out near the dusty border town of Kousseri. “We’ll go back when peace comes. Until then, we’ll wait.”

For more information, please see:

BBC- Chad Vows Raid To Seek Rebels   – 14 February 2008

All Africa – Chad: Refugees From N’djamena Still Fearful of Returning – 14 February 2008

AP – Official- France Helps Chad  – 14 February 2008

Author: Impunity Watch Archive