Developments in Chad

The information below is based on the 2009 report of the Secretary General to the Security Council (A/63/785-S/2009/158) issued on 26 March 2009. More information is available in the report.

There is a consistent pattern of recruitment of children by both Government forces and rebel groups, including in refugee camps and internally displaced persons sites, particularly in eastern Chad. In most camps, some refugee leaders act as focal points to facilitate the recruitment of children, in particular for JEM. These leaders reportedly take advantage of social gatherings in the camps, such as religious celebrations or wedding parties, to incite children into joining the rebellion. The Government of Chad is reported to be aware of this fact, and, according to consistent information received, some local officials have been assisting in the recruitment.

The recruitment and use of children is also perpetrated by other Sudanese armed groups generally referred to as Toroboros.

Thousands of children remain associated with armed groups belonging to different rebel factions such as the Convention révolutionnaire démocratique du Tchad (CRDT), Concorde nationale tchadienne (CNT), Front uni pour le changement (FUC) and Union des forces pour la démocratie et le développement (UFDD).

Government officials deny that Armée Nationale Tchadienne (ANT) recruits children. However, 13 per cent of the 555 children released from the armed forces and groups in 2007 and 2008 originated from ANT. Most Chadian self-defence groups operating in Ade, Dogdore and Mogororo, listed in the last annual report, have been integrated into the Chadian national army. These elements received formal training at the Moussoro Military Instruction Centre. There are no more children present in their ranks.

At the end of 2007 and throughout 2008, children were reportedly recruited by the Direction Générale de Sécurisation des Services et Institutions de l'Etat (DGSSIE), which is directly in charge of special military operations. Those children were recruited south and east of N'Djamena for the sum of 333,000 FCFA each (US$ 600), or in exchange for a motorcycle.

Women and girls in refugee camps and internally displaced persons sites, as well as in the surrounding towns and villages, have been subject to sexual assaults. Rape and physical assaults directed at girls are mainly attributed to unidentified uniformed armed men but also to ANT soldiers from units operating in the hills of Goz Beida and Modeina area. Cases of sexual and gender-based violence show an increasing trend of abuse towards refugee and internally displaced females, in particular girls under the age of 10.

The reporting period was characterized by a number of attacks targeting humanitarian personnel and assets. In most cases, the attackers seized material assets, while in others the attackers were more violent, killing humanitarian staff. Perpetrators are believed to be mainly armed elements and members of rebel groups who use extorted property for their military campaigns. The consequences of these attacks for civilians and children in particular have been severe. Humanitarian programmes were disrupted in Iridimi, Touloum, Ade, Adre and Dogdore. It is important to note that in many incidents of carjacking of humanitarian vehicles, the attackers drove into the Sudan, emphasizing the cross-border nature of this problem.

Parties responsible for recruitment and use of children

  1. Chadian National Army: this party has also been responsible for committing rape and other grave sexual violence against children and the denial of humanitarian access to children in the reporting period. Status: No action plan. However, an agreement was signed on 9 May 2007 between the Government of Chad and UNICEF in the context of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration efforts in Chad to release all children associated with the armed forces and groups and facilitate their sustainable reintegration into communities and families. In addition, during the visit of the Special Representative in May 2008, the Government of Chad committed to allow verification by United Nations teams of detention centres, training camps and military facilities; release as a matter of priority children associated with armed groups held in detention; and establish an inter-ministerial task force to coordinate and ensure effective reintegration of children. A joint commission was formed by the Government and UNICEF in August 2008. The commission has carried out verification visits to the Moussoro and Lumia instruction centres, where one child was identified and released. A total of 555 children have been demobilized to date, including 13 per cent from the Chadian National Army and 87 per cent from the Convention révolutionnaire démocratique du Tchad (CRDT), Concorde nationale tchadienne (CNT) and Front uni pour le changement (FUC).
  2. Concorde nationale tchadienne (CNT).
  3. Convention révolutionnaire démocratique du Tchad (CRDT).
  4. Direction Générale de Sécurisation des Services et Institutions de l'Etat (DGSSIE).
  5. Front uni pour le changement (FUC).
  6. Sudanese armed groups backed by the Government of Chad:
    1. Justice and Equality Movement;
    2. Sudanese Toroboros.
  7. Union des forces pour la démocratie et le développement (UFDD).

Press Releases by the Special Representative: