Chad president sacks officials over pasture dispute
Marshal Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno ordered civilians disarmed after a crisis meeting in Ennedi Ouest province.
Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno imposed immediate sanctions on military and administrative officials in Torboul, Ennedi Ouest province, on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The sanctions followed a crisis meeting convened shortly after the president's arrival to address tensions over pasture and water access that threatened to escalate into open conflict.
General Hamoda Mahamat Béchir, commander of defense zone n°8, was demoted and suspended for failing to enforce disarmament orders and for perceived inaction. The prefects of Torboul and Mourtcha, along with the sub-prefect of Am-Djirémé, were also dismissed. The president instructed the head of state security services to disarm civilians in the area, stating that state service requires obedience to hierarchy, not community.
The president began a security tour of several provinces, with Ennedi Ouest being the first stop. The delegate general for Ennedi Ouest, Goukouni Allatchi Tchoubougou, presented the ongoing tensions. General Hamoda Mahamat Béchir's deputy will assume his interim duties.
Why it mattersPresident Déby Itno took disciplinary action against military and administrative leaders and ordered civilian disarmament due to a conflict over resources.