Amnesty International has called on Chad authorities to ensure fair trial rights for the detained relatives of opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djerou, who was killed during an assault on the headquarters of the Socialist Party without Borders in February. Following this incident, 26 relatives have been detained incommunicado without explanation, access to medical care, or legal representation.
According to Amnesty International, the detainees include several chronically ill individuals and three children who are currently held in the maximum-security prison Koro Toro. Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, emphasized that the detainees must be released immediately unless they are promptly charged and tried according to international fair trial standards. She highlighted the necessity for Chad to meet its legal obligations by presenting detainees to a judge, allowing access to legal counsel, and detaining them in a location close to their families.
The human rights organization warned of a disturbing pattern of incommunicado detention and repression against opposition supporters in Chad. An earlier instance in October 2022 saw 128 deaths and hundreds detained following protests against the transitional military government. Enforcement action swiftly followed the demonstrations, with many detainees held without fair trial or due process rights.
As of yet, Chad’s judicial authorities have remained silent on the future of the detainees and the circumstances surrounding Djerou’s assassination. Amnesty International’s demands underscore an ongoing struggle for human rights and legal fairness in the region.
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