In the first incident, a breastfeeding mother was kidnapped from her home in Larmanaye, a town bordering Cameroon, on the night of January 7-8th. The kidnappers, targeting her husband, a community teacher, shot him in the shoulder before abducting his wife. They subsequently abandoned their four-month-old baby and demanded a 50 million CFA franc ransom for her release. This horrific incident has left the local community in a state of shock and fear.
In a separate incident, a 16-year-old girl who refused a forced marriage was tragically beaten to death by her own brothers in the Mangalmé sub-prefecture. This femicide has sparked outrage and condemnation across the country. The two brothers have been arrested and imprisoned.
These two cases, occurring within a short period, have underscored the alarming prevalence of gender-based violence in Chad. According to the Chadian League for Women’s Rights (LTDF), in less than a month, there have been nine reported cases of rape and two femicides.
In a letter to the President of the Republic entitled “Shadow of Impunity,” LTDF president Epiphanie Dionrang expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence against women and called for stronger government action to address this critical issue.
“Every day, we attend workshops and hear speeches about the conditions of women. But behind these initiatives, there is a reality of suffering, neglect, and government inaction,” she wrote, emphasizing the need for concrete action to combat gender-based violence.
These tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for increased efforts to prevent and combat gender-based violence in Chad. This includes strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing law enforcement response, raising public awareness, and providing support services for survivors.
CA/sf/te/lb/abj/APA