Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
Chad denies anti-jihadist operation hit civilians
Chad denies anti-jihadist operation hit civilians
by AFP Staff Writers
N'Djamena (AFP) Nov 2, 2024

Chad's government has "firmly" rejected reports that its army struck civilians in an anti-jihadist operation, which local sources told AFP had killed scores of fishermen in neighbouring Nigeria.

In response to a Boko Haram attack on a Chadian military base that killed at least 40 last week, Chad's army on Wednesday launched an airstrike pummelling Tilma island in the Kukawa district on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad.

That hit and killed fishermen tending to their catch, fishermen and anti-jihadist militia said -- accusations Chad rejects.

"Chad firmly denies recent reports of attacks allegedly carried out by the Chadian army against civilians, in particular fishermen in the Lake Chad region," government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said on Friday in a statement.

"The operations carried out so far have targeted well-identified jihadist groups," he said.

The government spokesman insisted Chad's army operations were "organised and disciplined, and scrupulously careful never to target civilians".

But speaking on condition of anonymity, a Chadian general staff officer who confirmed the strikes to AFP raised the possibility the army made a mistake.

"Boko Haram fighters often blend in with the fishermen and farmers whenever they commit their crimes. It is therefore difficult to distinguish between the population and the terrorists," the officer said.

Babakura Kolo, an anti-jihadist militia leader in Nigeria, echoed those concerns.

Chad's fighter jet "mistook the fishermen for Boko Haram terrorists who attacked a military base inside Chad on Sunday," Kolo said.

Fisherman Sallau Arzika, who escaped the airstrike and made it back to the garrison town of Monguno, told AFP "the fighter jet encircled Tilma before beginning to drop bombs while people ran in all directions for cover".

"A large number of fishermen were killed. No one can give an exact number because bodies are still scattered across Tilma."

Chad's government denounced the accusations as "false allegations" designed to "sow confusion and destabilise public opinion".

Besides killing around 40 people, Boko Haram's Sunday raid on a base in the Lake Chad region also left dozens wounded, with the group claiming responsibility for the attack in a propaganda video released on Monday.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who visited the military base after the jihadist attack, is said to be "personally" leading the army's counter-offensive against the militant group.

Located at the intersection of Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, Lake Chad is dotted with islands sheltering fighters from Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State in West Africa.

Since emerging in Nigeria in 2009, Boko Haram has spread to neighbouring countries while killing some 40,000 people and displacing more than two million.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Guinea junta chief promotes self to army general
Conakry (AFP) Nov 2, 2024
Guinea's junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya has elevated himself to the rank of army general as the coup-hit West African country marked the creation of its all-powerful armed forces. Doumbouya, 43, seized power by force in September 2021 by overthrowing President Alpha Conde, who had placed the then-colonel in charge of an elite force tasked with protecting the head of state from such coups. The military leader "exceptionally" promoted himself to the rank of lieutenant general in January while makin ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Making agriculture more resilient to climate change

Surf and Turf: Oregon State researchers to study feeding seaweed to cattle

Czech Republic curbs animal movement over bluetongue spread

Lebanon's wine region wrestles with war

AFRICA NEWS
Experts Warn of Potential Ocean Epidemic Risk from Migrating Species

No 'island of garbage' here, Puerto Rico's new marine reserve

Thousands take to London streets demanding cleaner water

FAU receives DOE grant to explore offshore ocean current energy near Palm Beach

AFRICA NEWS
Nations gather for crunch climate talks in shadow of US vote

1.2 billion people at 'high risk' from climate change: World Bank

Papua New Guinea to boycott 'waste of time' UN climate summit

Lancet calls for urgenet shift in fossil fuel investment to tackle climate health impacts

AFRICA NEWS
Solving interface mystery in organic solar cells makes them more efficient

CSIRO facility launches flexible solar technology for broad real-world use

New method enhances solar energy storage and utilization

Quality control in synthetic photosynthesis validates natural light-harvesting mimicry

AFRICA NEWS
Are bioplastics really the wonder alternative to petro plastics

Advanced biodegradable plastics achieve unprecedented toughness and sustainability

Vast and GGS Energy launch Project Bravo to power US green fuel production

Baylor engineers introduce ultra-clean biofuel combustion technology

AFRICA NEWS
Over 20 hospitalised after fire in southwest China

Spain sends thousands more troops to flood zone

Crowds hurl mud at Spanish king on visit to flood disaster town

Senegal navy intercepts nearly 600 migrants in 10 days

AFRICA NEWS
'Waiting in vain': year on from pledge, world clings to fossil fuels

Hydrogen: A Key Element for Sustainable Aviation

Iran, Azerbaijan hold joint drills in Caspian Sea

COP29 at risk from graft, fossil fuel interests: report

AFRICA NEWS
China factory output expands for first time in six months

Hong Kong economic growth misses forecast in third quarter: data

China to hash out stimulus plan with US elections in its sights

China says Malaysia PM to visit next week

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.