Ensuring Civilian Protection in Chad

An increased international presence in eastern Chad is urgently needed to protect civilians threatened by worsening insecurity and brutal militia violence. Civilians in eastern Chad have long suffered the consequences of living across the border from Sudan’s troubled western region of Darfur, but violence in Chad has recently taken on its own momentum. Amid continuing militia attacks against civilians, the Chadian state is not fulfilling its obligation to provide protection. Moreover, actions taken by the government of Chad in response to the threat posed by Chadian rebels based in Darfur, including military redeployments and reduced policing, have contributed to a rapidly deteriorating security situation and left civilians increasingly vulnerable to militia attacks and cross-border raids.