The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 73rd Ordinary Session from 20 October to 9 November 2022 in Banjul in the Republic of The Gambia;
Recalling its mandate to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in Africa pursuant to Article 45 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter);
Recalling also the principles of peace, democracy, the Rule of Law and Good Governance of the African Union and the Republic of Chad’s regional and international commitments to Human Rights;
Further recalling the conclusions and recommendations issues in the Press Releases and its Mechanisms from the country Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Chad, dated 29 April 2021;
Recalling moreover the conclusions and recommendations of the Communiqué of the 996th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, held on 14 May 2021 which examined the Report of the Investigation Mission to the Republic of Chad;
Recalling moreover the final conclusions and recommendations of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union at its 1106th meeting held on 19 September 2022 on the updating of the political transition in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Mali;
Concerned by the latest developments on the human rights situation following the demonstrations of 20 October 2022 in N’Djamena and in other Provinces of Chad, which were marked by deadly violence giving rise to more than 50 deaths and several injured persons;
Noting the position of the Transitional Government pertaining to the events which took place on 20 October 2022;
Strongly concerned by the allegations of several human rights violations, in particular against the right to life and physical integrity (Article 4), of the said right to freely associate with others (Article 11), as well as the right to freely participate in the Government of one’s country (Article 13);
The Commission:
i. Calls on the Government Authorities to:
- Guarantee that adequate measures will be taken to investigate the allegations of human rights violations and to ensure that corrective action will be taken in compensation.
- -To release all persons who are arbitrarily detained, in particular the human rights defenders; while ensuring strict respect for the regular procedures which are applicable in this regard;
- To conform to the dictates of the African Charter and those of the International Human Rights Conventions which have been properly ratified by the Republic of Chad;
ii. Urges the African Union, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the International Community to pursue their commitment with the Government and People of Chad, with a view to promoting consensus for a peaceful transition which respects human rights and guarantees the protection of the Chadian populations;
iii. Requests the Chadian Authorities to authorize a fact-finding mission on the allegations of human rights violations perpetrated in the country during the transition period, and in particular since 20 October 2022.
Done in Banjul, The Gambia, 9 November 2022
