The human rights organization has called on the Chadian authorities to end the campaign of intimidation against critical voices and to respect and protect the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
In Chad, the demise of Idriss Déby Itno has not ended the repression of dissenting voices.
According to Amnesty International, the crackdown on last weekend’s demonstration is the latest in a series of measures that have blatantly restricted the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful association in Chad for years.
“When the authorities’ attempts to ban the protest failed to deter people from demonstrating, security forces took over the main streets of the capital, N’Djamena, fired tear gas, injuring several people, and arrested dozens of demonstrators, who were released the same day,” said Amnesty’s Central Africa researcher, Abdoulaye Diarra.
According to him, on the morning of the demonstration, communication by SMS and via Internet networks were slow for several hours in some parts of N’Djamena.
This confirms, according to him, the link that Amnesty International has seen over the past five years between disruptions to Internet access and periods of political protest in the country.
“Since the beginning of the political transition, several demonstrations have been banned and repressed by the authorities. Between April 27 and May 19, 2021, at least 16 people were killed during demonstrations in N’Djamena and in the southern city of Moundou. The results of the investigations have still not been communicated,” he added.
In light of this, he said that the Chadian authorities must put an end to the campaign of intimidation against those who express criticism and respect and protect the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
On the restrictions on the operation of the internet during the demonstration, he said that these “must be investigated, and the Chadian people must be able to access the network and exchange information online freely.”
ARD/te/lb/as/APA