Police in Chad arrest several people following violent protests against France

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon - At least five people have been arrested in N'Djamena, Chad's largest city and capital, following sporadic but violent protests against France over its alleged backing of the country’s military junta, the government said Monday.

The Wakit-tamma coalition, a civil society group, held an authorized demonstration on Saturday in the capital, "but it degenerated into an act of vandalism against innocent people, their property as well as the symbols of countries friendly to Chad, notably France," said the government.

The peaceful march ended "in a disorderly manner" and the coalition's actions "constitute a serious infringement of freedoms,” it added.

Chad’s ruling junta rejected the notion that "friendly countries" bear responsibility for the ills that plague the country.

"The problems of Chad remain strictly national and must be debated among Chadians in a courageous manner," it said in an official statement.

Max Loaangar, a Chadian lawyer who is president of the Chadian Human Rights League and coordinator of Wakit-tamma, refuted the government's accusations in a phone conversation with Anadolu Agency.

The government's actions were inappropriate, according to him.

"Our march did not degenerate but it went on properly without incident or disorder until its end in the presence of the police. I myself took the floor at the end to thank my comrades and to give them an appointment on May 28 for another anti-France demonstration. Afterwards, there were sporadic demonstrations throughout Ndjamena that did not involve our coalition," he said.

The human rights activist said the police presence was "deficient" because it did not prevent break-ins at gas stations owned by the French oil company Total, as it had happened in the past.

"A far-sighted police force would have taken measures to ensure that these break-ins against French interests would not take place. These measures were not taken. This is a matter of public safety, and we have never stopped the police from doing its job," he added.

Loaangar nevertheless sees in these demonstrations an important interest of the population in their country’s relationship with France.

"For several weeks, Chadians have been denouncing the discreet establishment of French military bases in five major cities of the country by broadcasting videos of French planes and soldiers. The French embassy denied this information, saying that it was just a rumor. However, the population did not believe it," he said.

A plane belonging to the French army, an Airbus type CASA, that had been immobilized at the Ati airfield since Dec. 30, 2021 due to a breakdown was repaired and took off Sunday morning for N'Djamena, according to several media outlets and local activists.

"This tactical military cargo plane broke down during a joint routine exercise with the Chadian army. It ran off the runway while landing at Ati airfield," reported Tchad Infos, a local online media outlet, citing confirmation from the Chadian military.

Wakit-Tamma also denounced the arrest of its five members on Saturday and their transportation to the courthouse on Monday.

Several corroborating local sources reported that at least one protester was injured.

The junta "failed in its primary mission of supervising the demonstrations, securing the route and protecting people and property,” said the Front for Alternation and Concord in Chad (FACT).

Civil society leaders were not responsible for the disturbances, according to FACT.

FACT also condemned "the illegal arrest of the demonstrators" and demanded their immediate release.