Chad’s Military Linked to Deaths of Detainees from 2022 Protests

#Politics & Current Affairs
Chad’s Military Linked to Deaths of Detainees from 2022 Protests

Loveworld / 2 weeks

August 6, 2024

1 min read

Human Rights Watch has reported that Chad’s military is responsible for the deaths of several detainees arrested during the October 2022 protests. The report indicates that at least four detainees died en route to Koro Toro prison, six others died within the prison, and the fate of another detainee remains unknown. The actual number of deaths is likely higher.
The protests against interim leader Mahamat Deby Itno’s extension of power resulted in at least 60 deaths from live ammunition fired by security forces. Hundreds of detainees were transported to Koro Toro, located about 600 kilometers from N’Djamena, the capital.
Human Rights Watch has called for investigations into the unlawful detentions, ill-treatment, and deaths in custody, urging the Chadian government, African Union, and United Nations to address these abuses. The organization also criticized the conditions at Koro Toro prison and called for one of its main buildings to be closed.
The Chadian government maintains that the detentions were justified and has denied any evidence of human rights violations related to the transfer or detention at Koro Toro.