Amnesty urges Chad to probe death of 5 protesters

By Rodrigue Forku

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AA) - Amnesty International on Wednesday called on Chad authorities to investigate the death of five people during a protest on Tuesday.

In a statement, the rights group said no one should face arrest for simply exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.

Tuesday’s protests in Chad led to the death of at least five people, according to the authorities. Many more people were also injured and arrested.

“We urge authorities to launch impartial and independent investigations into the circumstances of these deaths and bring to justice anyone responsible for unlawful killing,” Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Deputy Director Marceau Sivieude said.

A coalition of civil society organizations and opposition parties had called for protests on Tuesday against the new Transitional Military Council (CMT). Protesters are calling for a return to civilian rule in the Central African country.

On Tuesday, the head of Chad’s CMT called for an inclusive dialogue after violent protests left several dead.

In his first speech to the nation on Tuesday, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby promised an "inclusive national dialogue" during the 18-month transition to elections.

He came to power last week after his late father President Idriss Deby Itno, 68, died battling rebels on the frontline, just a day after his re-election for a sixth term.​