The United Nations Rights Office, OHCHR, on Friday said it was deeply disturbed by the use of live ammunition by security forces during recent protests in Chad following the death of former President Idriss Deby last month, reported Anadolu Agency.
During a press briefing in Geneva, Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the OHCHR, said the security forces arrested over 700 people during the demonstrations.
“At this point, it is unclear how many remain in detention,” Hurtado said.
Earlier this week, civil society organizations and opposition parties had called for protests against the transitional military council. They are demanding a return to civilian rule in the Central African country.
The violent protests have led to the death of at least six people and injured several others in the capital N’Djamena and in the second-largest Chadian city of Moundou.
“As further protests and general strikes have been called to take place in the coming days, we stress that Chad remains bound by its obligations under international human rights law to protect and respect human rights, including the right to life, and to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the OHCHR spokesperson said.
Hurtado said defense and security forces must get clear instructions from the authorities to not use force against peaceful protesters and to ensure that any violent incidents are handled in line with the rule of law and relevant international human rights laws and standards.
She called on all the relevant state institutions to conduct impartial, prompt, effective, and transparent investigations into any human rights violations.
Mahamat Idriss Deby was appointed as the head of Chad’s transitional military council last week after his late father President Idriss Deby Itno, 68, died battling rebels on the frontline, just a day after his re-election for a sixth term.
