Chadian magistrates file complaint against public security minister

The executive boards of the Chadian Magistrates’ Union (Syndicat des Magistrats du Tchad, SMT) and the Autonomous Union of Chadian Magistrates (Syndicat Autonome des Magistrats du Tchad, SYAMAT) have formally lodged a complaint against Ali Ahmat Aghabache, the country’s Minister of Public Security and Immigration, with the prosecutor general at the N’Djamena Court of Appeal.

In their complaint, the unions accuse the minister of severely undermining the dignity of the judiciary and the respect owed to magistrates. The move follows public remarks made by the minister during a widely circulated announcement on May 24, 2026, in which he allegedly used insulting and defamatory language toward the judicial system.

The magistrates’ unions argue that these statements amount to criminal offenses, including public discrediting of judicial and jurisdictional acts, as well as contempt and defamation against a constituted body. Their legal case relies on specific provisions of the Chadian Penal Code (Articles 142, 144, and subsequent articles) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Articles 527 and 528).

The unions are urging the prosecutor general to initiate a judicial investigation, pursue all appropriate legal actions, and uphold the dignity, independence, and authority of the judiciary.