Chadian Women Protest Insecurity Half-Naked

Women in the Larmanaye village of Logone Oriental province in Chad on Tuesday, Jan. 14, trooped into the streets half-naked, marching to the residence of the sub-divisional officer in protest against rising insecurity.

The women condemned the assassinations and theft of cattle which have become very rampant in the zone and expressed their anger against the attitude of the administrative authorities towards these criminal activities.

For years, blood-thirsty terrorists have operated with impunity in the Larmanaye locality and neighbouring villages. They steal, kill and kidnap people under the noses of the local authorities. The most recent case was the attack on the night of Jan. 4 and 5 on the residence of the council mayor.

“They seriously wounded the head of the family and abducted his wife. We have not had any news of the wife’s whereabouts despite the intervention of the forces of law and order,” one resident told HumAngle.

The resident accused the local authorities of not ensuring the security of the population as they should. “We are tired of taking bullets, being kidnapped and stolen from. We are tired of the laxism of local authorities. Our women are demonstrating to attract the attention of the state to our situation. Let this passivity of the law enforcement forces towards these criminals stop,” the local added.

Chad, a country in the Central Africa region, has battled a spate of armed violence for over a decade. Recurring conflict and insurgency have plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis and food insecurity.

According to Humanitarian Action, Chad has been affected by insecurity resulting from the insurgency of armed groups and by the fragile security situation in neighbouring countries: one million people are forcibly displaced.