Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged an independent investigation, supported by the international community, into the death of Chad’s prominent opposition figure, Yaya Dillo Djerou, ahead of a crucial upcoming election.
Yaya Dillo Djerou, 49, a key opponent and cousin of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the transitional president declared by Chad’s ruling junta in 2021, lost his life on Wednesday as troops reportedly surrounded the headquarters of his Socialist Party Without Borders in N’Djamena. The opposition party claims it was an “execution,” while the government contends there was an exchange of gunfire during Dillo’s resistance to arrest.
HRW expressed deep concerns about the implications of Dillo’s death on the scheduled elections set for May 6, stating, “The killing of a potential presidential candidate during an assault by Chadian security forces on an opposition party headquarters raises serious concerns about the environment for elections scheduled for May 6.”
Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at HRW, emphasized the need for clarity surrounding the events and the broader political landscape in Chad.
“The lack of clarity surrounding the attack on the PSF headquarters, the threats previously faced by Dillo, and the general political repression in the country all point to the need for an independent investigation with foreign assistance into the February 28, 2024 events,” Mudge said.
HRW disclosed that it had examined photos provided by a reliable source close to Dillo, revealing him deceased with a single bullet wound to the head.
The incident occurred a day after Chad’s military rulers announced a presidential election for May 6, marking the end of a three-year transition period aimed at restoring constitutional rule. Dillo, who had expressed concerns about threats to his life prior to his death, planned to participate in the election, along with Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
The government had accused Dillo of leading an attack on the offices of Chad’s internal security agency the night before his death, an allegation he vehemently denied. Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno assumed power in 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, pledging a swift return to civilian rule and elections within 18 months, which was later extended by two years.
