Chad’s National Human Rights Commission has strongly opposed growing calls to reinstate the death penalty, warning that such a move would undermine the country’s 2020 decision to abolish capital punishment for all crimes, including terrorism. The debate resurfaced after a wave of violent crime and insecurity fueled public anger, with some political voices demanding harsher punishments. But the CNDH cautioned that capital punishment neither guarantees greater security nor serves as a stronger deterrent than life imprisonment.
Instead, the Commission urged authorities to strengthen judicial and police institutions, improve access to fair trials, and tackle the root causes of insecurity such as poverty, unemployment, and weak governance. “The death penalty is cruel, inhuman, and irreversible. Chad must not step back on the progress it has made in protecting the right to life,” the Commission said in a statement. The body also appealed for a calm and inclusive national dialogue, stressing that justice reforms and human rights protections not executions offer the only sustainable path to restoring public trust and building long-term security.
