The situation is unprecedented. Chadian magistrates have declared an unlimited strike since 28 June 2021. For good reason, they demand more security in the exercise of their function after the assassination of the Public Prosecutor, Ahmat Mahamat Hamba, on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in the province of Bahta, located in the center of the country. Supported by lawyers at the bar of Chad, the mood movement continues across the national territory. The men in black robes are demanding firearms to ensure their own safety.
The judiciary is paralyzed in Chad. Since the murder of the Public Prosecutor, Ahmat Mahamat Hamba, on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, the magistrates have decided to lead the fight for the security and protection of those who are supposed to enforce justice in the country. At the end of a general assembly held at the N’Djaména courthouse on Monday 28 June 2021, they declared an unlimited strike until their demands were met. “We have decided this time to enter into an unlimited strike while waiting for the highest authority to find a definitive solution to this question of insecurity in the jurisdictions. Because to do justice, you have to have peace of mind and, as long as the judges are not safe, they will not be able to do justice”, indicated Tuesday to the Anadolu Agency, the president of the Union of Magistrates of Chad (SMT), Moussa Wadé Djibrine.
The legal system is demanding more consideration and security to work with more stability in a context where weapons circulate regularly in the country. Men have become more violent and therefore the magistrates more exposed in the exercise of their office. “Today, there are uncontrollable people, there are weapons circulating, the working conditions of the magistrates are not met, some work in completely dilapidated palaces where the premises are not fenced”, said Taoka Bruno, president of the autonomous union of magistrates of Chad. The government is turning a deaf ear to this situation, which continues to worry all justice workers. “Our organisation has constantly alerted the authorities to the threats to the judiciary. But the government has not taken it seriously,’ he added.
The magistrates are demanding handguns for Justice workers, as are prosecutors, judges, lawyers and all other lawyers who could be exposed in the performance of their duties. This is a first test for the President of the Transition, Mahamat Idriss Déby Kaka, who came to power after the death of his father Idriss Deby on 19 April 2021.
