The Tibesti region in northwest Chad has been experiencing intense tensions due to the exploitation of significant gold reserves. The area has attracted numerous illegal gold miners from Chad, Sudan, and other African countries, as well as military personnel. According to a security source, at least 72 military personnel have been injured in the region and transferred to a military hospital in N'Djamena, the capital city.
The clashes between the army and a local militia, known as the Committee for Self-Defense of Miski, have been ongoing since an attack on October 14. The militia has been controlling the locality of Miski, located about 200 kilometers from Bardaï, the capital of the province. The Committee for Self-Defense of Miski has accused the Mining Brigade, a security force under the Ministry of Mines, of introducing gold mining activities and collecting taxes from miners, contrary to an agreement signed in 2025.
The agreement, signed in 2025, provides for a general amnesty for members of the Chadian defense and security forces and those of the Committee for Self-Defense of Miski who participated in clashes in 2019 and 2020. It also led to the cancellation of all mining permits and the suspension of all mining activities in the Miski area and its surroundings, pending the results of mapping studies. A previous agreement was signed in 2019 between the militia and the government of Idriss Deby Itno, but it was never implemented.
The situation in Miski remains tense, with the Committee for Self-Defense of Miski maintaining control over the area. The militia's spokesperson, Ahmet Molikini, reported that the army is facing difficulties and has suffered significant human and material losses. The Chadian government has not commented on the events, and the AFP has not received a response to its requests for information.
On October 14, two members of the Mining Brigade were killed and nine others injured in an attack by the Committee for Self-Defense of Miski. The militia demands the demilitarization of the Miski area and a resumption of dialogue to ensure the respect and implementation of the peace agreement. Four people suspected of participating in the attack were arrested last week, according to a military official.
The clashes in the Tibesti region have raised concerns about the security situation in Chad, which has been experiencing instability in recent years. The region's rich gold reserves have attracted numerous armed groups and militias, leading to a complex security situation. The Chadian government has struggled to maintain control over the area, and the situation remains volatile.
The international community has expressed concern about the situation in Chad, and efforts are being made to broker a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, the situation remains tense, and it is unclear when the clashes will cease. The 72 injured military personnel are receiving treatment in N'Djamena, and the incident has highlighted the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Key points
- - At least 72 Chadian military personnel have been injured in the Tibesti region amid ongoing clashes between the army and a local militia. - The clashes are related to the exploitation of significant gold reserves in the region. - The situation in Miski remains tense, with the Committee for Self-Defense of Miski maintaining control over the area.
