Chad’s ruling military junta has reached a peace agreement with armed groups in the country’s northern region, following years of unrest linked to the control and exploitation of gold deposits.
The accord, signed on Sunday, marks a potentially significant step towards stability in the Miski area of the Tibesti province, which borders Libya and has long been a hotspot for conflict over mineral resources.
Saleh Kebzabo, acting as the government’s mediator, formalised the deal with two armed groups that had engaged in clashes with the national army between 2019 and 2020. The fighting centred on the Miski region’s gold mines, which are believed to contain substantial reserves.
As part of the agreement, all existing mining permits for the Miski area have been revoked, and all mining activities have been suspended pending a new geological survey.
The Miski Self-Defence Committee, one of the signatories to the accord, had effectively barred government access to the region for several years. Previous agreements in 2019 and 2023 had failed to bring lasting peace, either collapsing outright or being poorly implemented.
However, this time the militia’s leadership expressed cautious optimism. Djimet Chava, president of the Miski Self-Defence Committee, said the group was placing its trust in the new agreement. “It is now up to both sides to honour their commitments,” he said at the signing event.
“Even if we face setbacks, we are committed to resolving them through dialogue rather than conflict,” Chava added, signalling a possible shift in approach from armed resistance to negotiation.
