Violent Clashes Erupt in Mangalmé: Over 100 Lives Lost Due to Intercommunal Tensions

Understanding the Dynamics and Implications of Recent Violent Clashes in Rural Chad

Mangalmé, 10/13/23: A recent report from the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM) unveils distressing details about the violent intercommunal clashes that have transpired in the rural sous-préfectures of Kouka Margné, Bithotchi Mangalmé, and Eref, located in the Mangalmé department.

According to the UN IOM's Emergency Tracking Tool (ETT), a system designed to monitor sudden population movements and various emergencies, these conflicts have resulted in a staggering death toll of 116 individuals, with another 80 suffering injuries. Notably, despite the gravity of these confrontations, no significant population displacement has been reported thus far.

The origin of these tensions dates back to early August 2023, with skirmishes arising between farmers and transhumant herders over the use of transhumance corridors in Mangalmé. Transhumance refers to the practice of moving livestock seasonally between fixed summer and winter pastures. The Mangalmé department, with its rich pastures, has long been a point of contention between these two communities.

Efforts from local administrative authorities to mediate and ease the tensions proved futile, culminating in a severe clash on 20 August 2023. This particular confrontation between the transhumant herders and local communities is responsible for the majority of the reported casualties.

As the region grapples with this ongoing crisis, resulting in both material and human losses, discussions are currently underway at the local level. The primary focus of these discussions is to devise a sustainable solution that can effectively minimize and prevent the recurrence of such devastating incidents in the future.

The UN IOM continues to monitor the situation closely through its Emergency Tracking Tool, gathering data primarily through key informant interviews and direct observation.

Source: United Nations International Organization for Migration (UN IOM)

Chad — Emergency Tracking Tool Report 175 (September 2023) | Displacement Tracking Matrix. (n.d.). Dtm.iom.int. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://dtm.iom.int/es/reports/chad-emergency-tracking-tool-report-175-september-2023

Intercommunal Conflicts in Chad's Mangalmé Department: An In-depth Security Risk Analysis

Executive Summary:

This report delves into a pressing security alert stemming from violent inter-communal conflicts in Chad's Mangalmé department.