Chad’s Minister of Public Security and Immigration, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache, addressed the Senate on June 1, 2026, responding to concerns raised by Senator M. Mbaigolmen Sébastien regarding the ongoing violence and insecurity plaguing the nation. The session, presided over by Senate President Dr. Haroun Kabadi, featured a robust debate on the critical issue of national stability.
Dr. Haroun Kabadi initiated the discussion by highlighting a troubling trend: despite the deployment of defense and security forces across various provinces, conflicts persist. He specifically cited incidents in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, Salamat in June 2025, and Hadjar-Lamis on November 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in numerous fatalities. A notable conflict between herders and farmers also occurred on May 14, 2025, in Mandakao, Logone Occidental province, though it was followed by an agreement signed on July 5, 2025.
In his comprehensive response to Senator Mbaigolmen Sébastien’s inquiry, General Ali Ahmat Aghabache elucidated the primary drivers of intercommunal conflicts. He explained that disputes frequently arise over vital resources such as water and land, alongside traditional tensions between agriculturalists and livestock breeders. Before delving into specifics, the minister paused to express profound sympathy and observe a moment of remembrance for all citizens who have lost their lives or suffered temporary or permanent disabilities due to community clashes across Chad’s provinces. He articulated a desire for the oral question to encompass the broader scope of community conflicts, not only in Dougui (Logone Occidental) but also in Mayo-Kebbi, Wadi, Sila, Bahr El-Ghazal, Salamat, and more recently, Wadi Fira. “We share the grief of bereaved families and extend our heartfelt condolences to all victims of these violent acts,” he stated.
The minister further affirmed his department’s unwavering commitment to providing clear answers and implementing concrete solutions to the pressing security challenges confronting the country.
While reassuring the public that overall security in Chad remains largely intact, the Security Minister acknowledged the existence of specific “pockets of insecurity.” He pragmatically noted, “Indeed, no nation worldwide experiences a state of absolutely perfect security or a complete absence of insecurity.”
He underscored that these localized tensions, often exacerbated or manipulated at a local level, cannot be resolved solely through security presence. Instead, security forces primarily aim to contain violence and establish conditions conducive to achieving lasting political and social resolutions.
Despite isolated incidents, strategies focused on preventing and resolving community conflicts are deemed most effective for addressing the root causes of the phenomenon. The minister outlined several factors contributing to the escalation and persistence of violence across various provinces:
- Conflicts over Natural Resources: Violence intensifies during the rainy season in eastern, southern, and central Chad, primarily due to agricultural crop damage inflicted by livestock. These disputes frequently escalate into violent acts of vengeance rather than peaceful resolution.
- Scarcity of Land and Water: Climate change and drought in northern regions have diminished pastoral resources, compelling herders to migrate southward. Simultaneously, population growth and expanding cultivated areas exert increased pressure on agricultural and pastoral lands, fueling conflicts among local communities.
- Lack of Clear Resource Regulation and Legal Vacuum: The absence of precise maps delineating transhumance corridors, land rights, and agricultural zones creates a legal void that fosters disagreements between groups.
- Demographic Growth: An expanding population leads to increased demand for pastures, water, food, and land, intensifying pressure on fragile ecosystems and local communities.
- Political Exploitation of Tribal Affiliations: Certain political actors exploit tribal loyalties 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 predominance of tribal identity over national identity has weakened the sense of belonging to the state and the concept of citizenship.
- Influence of Neighboring Countries’ Security Situations and Regional Conflicts: The proliferation of small arms across borders has made deadly automatic weapons accessible to local communities, escalating the intensity of traditional conflicts and increasing their human cost.
- Disputes over Land Ownership and Historical Boundaries: The cumulative human toll from these conflicts in 2025 reached 318 fatalities and 315 injuries.
Senators posed several questions to the minister, inquiring about the provinces most affected by violence, the measures and mechanisms implemented to mitigate violence in specific Chadian provinces and villages, and the issue of light weapons proliferation.
Despite ongoing challenges, senators acknowledged and commended the Security Minister’s efforts in combating insecurity nationwide, though they stressed that substantial work remains.
In addressing intercommunal conflicts, the Security Minister urged local leaders, traditional chiefs, and elected representatives to prioritize raising awareness about the importance of peaceful coexistence and social cohesion to prevent future clashes. He seized the opportunity to present a review of police and gendarmerie operations conducted between 2024 and 2025, which resulted in the seizure of over 4,000 weapons, the arrest of more than 1,300 bandits, and the confiscation of significant quantities of illicit drugs.
The minister also responded to further questions concerning kidnappings for ransom, particularly in Mayo-Kebbi Ouest, and child abductions by the Boko Haram sect in Lac province. Senator Mariam Ahmat Djamil highlighted the alarming presence of unidentified foreigners in Chad as a significant source of insecurity.
Regarding the establishment of new police stations to enhance security, the minister affirmed his department’s dedication to this initiative. He noted that the recent creation of several police stations and companies in Abéché, Ouaddaï province, has already contributed to a reduction in insecurity in that region.
