Amnesty International says Chadian authorities must immediately release 10 relatives of slain opposition leader Yaya Dillo Djerou who remain in the Koro Toro maximum security prison , although they were acquitted in July after security forces stormed the headquarters of Djeru’s party in February.
The organization also calls on the authorities to disclose the charges that led to the conviction of 14 other people in the same case, process their appeals in accordance with Chad’s national and international human rights obligations, and transfer them to Chad.
All 24 were relatives of Yaya Dillo Djerou, president of the Socialist Party without Borders (PSF), who was involved in the military attack on the PSF headquarters in N’Djamena on February 27, 2024. Lu was detained after his death. According to Amnesty International records, they remain detained in Korotoro, 600 kilometers from the capital, under inhuman or degrading conditions. These include three minors aged 16 to 18, and several people with chronic diseases. They had no contact with the family or assistance from legal counsel before the first hearing of the case.
The authorities must guarantee the appellant’s right to a fair trial and defense
Their convictions and sentences.Amnesty International Regional Director for West and Central Africa Samira Daoud
“The continued detention of 10 people in Korotoro prison, despite their acquittal, is a clear case of arbitrary detention and a violation of national and international human rights law. This is a consistent pattern of repression against opposition supporters in Chad “Part of this is a continuation of the events of October 2022, when dozens of demonstrators were killed in Korotoro and hundreds were arrested and detained in violation of their human rights,” Samira said. Daoud, Amnesty International’s regional director for West and Central Africa. “Chadian authorities must end their crackdown on human rights and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in the country.”
A relative of one of the 14 convicted told Amnesty International: “Those sentenced were schoolchildren, students and party sympathizers with no real role. They have appealed the decision, but a date for the appeal hearing has not yet been set .
Amnesty International called on Chadian authorities to ensure the rights of the accused are respected.
“The authorities must guarantee the rights to a fair trial and the right to defense of those who appeal against their convictions and sentences. In accordance with national law, they must also be transferred to the N’Djamena detention facility,” said Samira Daoud.
Another PSF leader is also held in solitary confinement in N’Djamena
Other PSF members have also been targeted by Chadian authorities. PSF Secretary General Robert Gam was arrested in September 2024 and has been held in solitary confinement ever since. When Robert Gan was arrested, a human rights defender told Amnesty International: “We fear for his life. We will return to methods that we believe are outdated.
Another top PSF figure, Abakar Torabi, deputy secretary-general of the National Treasury, was released on November 20 without any known charges after nine months of secret detention in N’Djamena .
“The authorities should release Robert Game unless he is immediately charged with an internationally recognized crime and his right to a defense is guaranteed. The authorities must also end the practice of solitary confinement, as required by their national and international legal obligations,” Samira Daoud said.
background
On February 29, 2024, prosecutors announced that PSF Chairman Yaya Dillo Djerou had been killed in a massive military attack on the PSF headquarters on February 27, 2024, which authorities described as a gunbattle , supporters of Yaya Dilo Djeru called the attack a shootout.
Authorities accuse supporters of Yaya Dilo Djeru of attacking the National Security Agency headquarters on February 27 to secure the release of PSF National Finance Minister Abakar Torabi. He was arrested for his alleged involvement in the attack on the Supreme Court headquarters on February 19, 2024.
On March 5, then Prime Minister Sussex Marsa stated that there would be an “international” investigation into the attack on the PSF headquarters. However, there is no public information about the details and status of any such investigation. Meanwhile, the party headquarters was razed to the ground.
