Chad’s security minister addresses senators on persistent insecurity challenges

On June 1, 2026, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache, Chad’s Minister of Public Security and Immigration, appeared before the Senate to address an oral question and debate initiated by Senator M. Mbaigolmen Sébastien. The session, presided over by Dr. Haroun Kabadi, President of the Senate, focused on the ongoing violence and persistent insecurity challenges across Chad.

Dr. Kabadi highlighted that despite the deployment of defense and security forces in numerous provinces, conflicts continue to emerge. He cited incidents in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest and Salamat in June 2025, and in Hadjar-Lamis on November 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in multiple fatalities. Furthermore, a significant clash between herders and farmers occurred on May 14, 2025, in Mandakao, Logone Occidental province, though an agreement was subsequently signed on July 5, 2025.

Before delving into the specifics, Minister Aghabache conveyed his profound sympathy, observing a moment of silence for those who lost their lives or suffered temporary or permanent disabilities due to the various communal conflicts plaguing the nation. He articulated that these inter-communal disputes often stem from competition over vital resources such as water points and land, or escalate from disagreements between agriculturalists and pastoralists. The Minister expressed a preference for the debate to encompass the broader issue of communal conflicts, not only in Dougui, Logone Occidental, but also in Mayo-Kebbi, Wadi, Sila, Bahr El-Ghazal, Salamat, and most recently, Wadi Fira. “We share the sorrow of the bereaved families and extend our sincere compassion to all victims of this violence,” he affirmed.

Minister Aghabache also reassured the assembly of his department’s unwavering commitment to providing clear answers and implementing tangible solutions to the multifaceted security challenges confronting Chad. He maintained that overall security across the country is largely assured, while candidly acknowledging the presence of specific ‘pockets of insecurity’. “Indeed, no place in the world enjoys a perfectly secure situation or an absolute absence of insecurity,” Minister Aghabache stated, emphasizing a realistic perspective on security in the Sahel region.

He underscored that these tensions, frequently exploited or manipulated at a local level, cannot be resolved solely through a security presence. Such deployments primarily aim to contain violence and foster conditions conducive to achieving lasting political and social resolutions. Despite isolated incidents, prevention and resolution strategies for communal conflicts remain the most effective approach to tackling the issue at its core. The Minister summarized the primary causes behind the escalation and persistence of violent acts in various provinces:

• Conflicts over Natural Resources: Violence intensifies during the rainy season, particularly in eastern, southern, and central Chad, often due to livestock damaging agricultural crops. These disputes frequently escalate into violent acts of vengeance rather than being resolved peacefully.
• Scarcity of Land and Water: Climate change and drought in northern regions have diminished pastoral resources, compelling herders to migrate southward. Concurrently, population growth and expanding cultivated areas exert increased pressure on both agricultural and pastoral lands, fueling conflicts between local communities.
• Absence of Clear Resource Regulation and Legal Vacuum: The lack of precise maps delineating transhumance corridors, land rights, and agricultural zones creates a legal void that exacerbates disputes between groups.
• Demographic Growth: An increasing population drives higher demand for pastures, water, food, and land, intensifying pressure on fragile ecosystems and local communities.
• Political Exploitation of Tribal Affiliations: Certain political actors manipulate tribal allegiances to garner support, enhance their influence, or secure personal or political advantages, thereby aggravating local tensions and conflicts.
• Ethnic Diversity and Tribal Structure: Chadian society is remarkably complex, comprising over 200 ethnic groups. The strong prevalence of tribal identity over national belonging has weakened the sense of state allegiance and the concept of citizenship.
• Influence of Neighboring Countries’ Security Situations and Regional Conflicts: The proliferation of light weapons across borders has provided local communities with access to deadly automatic firearms, significantly increasing the intensity and human cost of traditional conflicts.
• Disputes Related to Land Ownership and Historical Boundaries: The cumulative human toll from these conflicts in 2025 reached 318 fatalities and 315 injuries.

Senators raised several questions concerning the most affected provinces, the measures implemented to mitigate violence in specific Chadian villages and provinces, and the issue of light weapons proliferation. While acknowledging and commending the Minister’s efforts in combating insecurity nationwide, the senators emphasized that significant work remains ahead.

In response to questions regarding inter-communal conflicts, the Security Minister urged local officials, traditional leaders, and elected representatives to prioritize awareness campaigns promoting peaceful coexistence and social cohesion. He also provided an overview of police and gendarmerie operations conducted between 2024 and 2025, revealing the seizure of over 4,000 weapons, the arrest of more than 1,300 bandits, and the confiscation of substantial quantities of illicit drugs.

Further inquiries were addressed by the Minister, including concerns about kidnappings for ransom, particularly in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, and the abduction of children by Boko Haram in Lac Province. Senator Mariam Ahmat Djamil specifically highlighted the unsettling presence of unidentified foreigners within Chad, identifying it as a significant source of insecurity. Regarding the establishment of new police stations to enhance security, the Minister confirmed his department’s active engagement. Recent initiatives, such as the creation of several police stations and companies in Abéché, Ouaddaï province, have already led to a notable reduction in insecurity in that area.