Chad: hundreds of people interviewed after arrests

Chadian soldiers in front of the Ndjamena court (2007 archive image).

Thomas SAMSON / Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

After the violent demonstrations against the new regime, it is time to take stock.

More than 700 people have been arrested in the protest districts of the Chadian capital.

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In the corridors of the courthouse, many young people, their hair full of dust, are sitting on the ground, barefoot, closely watched by armed men.

In turn, they are heard by the courts.

A total of 711 people are to be heard.

Mostly men in their twenties, arrested

during demonstrations

in the Chagoua, Atrone and Habena districts, reports our

correspondent in Ndjamena

,

Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula

.

“Destruction of public and private property”, “disturbance of public order” or even “assault and battery”.

The accusations are multiple.

Residents were also picked up blind by the police,

 " explains a lawyer, specifying that they are released as and when. 

It is impossible to know the exact number of people released or charged, the hearings being still ongoing. 

The public prosecutor only specifies that 27 people were taken to the prison, Klessoum.

They are accused of lynching a retired policewoman during the protests.

Bereaved families

A judicial investigation will also be opened to determine the circumstances of the death of three people killed by gunshot, according to the first finding made at the mortuary of the capital by the courts.

Opponents and Chadian civil society have been in shock since Tuesday.

The rallies organized to denounce the current transition were dispersed by the police in several neighborhoods of Ndjamena and in some provincial towns.

The state recognizes six deaths in total.

Civil society evokes eleven now, with dozens of wounded. 

In Walia, a district of the 9th arrondissement, the scene of violent clashes, the families of three young people who died on Tuesday agreed to receive our special envoys

François Mazet

and

Boris Vichith

.

Hagards, the men of the Bahama family, wait under a tree.

Jocelyn, his uncle, grew up with him.

I got an emergency call saying my little one was shot.

I hurried to the hospital, saw him dying.

He succumbed to his injuries.

 "

The passions of Happiness were history and sport.

With his father, Solomon, he did not talk about politics.

However, Tuesday morning, he left his house to join the procession.

Hit by two bullets, he died in hospital.

► To read also: Chad: the CMT asks the organizers of the demonstrations to "reframe their militants"

Young people do not know their hearts, we do not know the hearts of children.

So he went out discreetly to join his colleagues, that's how he fell ... He was a child who took his studies to heart and friendship too.

 "

In this other family, visitors come to send their condolences.

Sina Garandi's friends say he was targeted for no reason.

Djono, his uncle, is fatalistic.

What happened has happened.

What does anger lead to?

We are going to wait for his burial.

Because what are we asking from whom?

There is no justice.

Who are we chasing?

 "

In order to pay tribute to the deceased, the organizers of the protests hope to convince the families to organize a joint funeral on Saturday.

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