Chad: incidents during a demonstration in Abéché, the main city in the East

The town of Abéché.

(Illustrative photo) © Marie-Pierre Olphand/RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Demonstrations erupted on Monday January 24 to demand the cancellation of a decree appointing a canton chief in the province.

The demonstration was violently repressed according to witnesses on the spot.

Human rights associations speak of live ammunition and mention several dozen injured.

The authorities categorically deny it.

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With our correspondent in Ndjamena,

From the morning, the sky of Abéché was tinged with thick black smoke, explains a resident.

Hundreds of protesters burned tires on one of the city's main thoroughfares.

The crowd was quickly dispersed by the soldiers.

Witnesses speak of live ammunition. 

About twenty injured were taken to hospital, at least five of them are in serious condition.

“

 ” said a medical source on site. 

The government spokesman denies the use of firearms against the population.

Abderaman Koulamallah assures that it is impossible to know if these shots come from the police or from the demonstrators. 

At the origin of this rise in anger: the announcement of the enthronement of the head of the canton of Bani Halba.

This township is illegal because it does not meet customary rules according to the protesters.

They suspect the state of wanting to “

”.

They claim that the demonstrations will continue until the decree creating the canton is cancelled. 

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• Chad