Human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah detained and charged
On 11 December 2020, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was found not guilty of the charges of “act of rebellion and disturbance of public order” by the Court of First Instance of N'djamena. On the same day, the defender was released from Amsinene prison where he had been detained since his arbitrary arrest on 27 November by police officers at the office of Radio FM-Liberté.
On 30 November 2020, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was charged with “act of rebellion and disturbance of public order’’ by the Ndjamena Court, following his arbitrary arrest on 27 November by police officers at the office of Radio FM-Liberté. The defender is currently detained at Amsinene central prison in Ndjamena. His next hearing is scheduled for 11 December 2020.
Alain Kemba Didah is a human rights defender and coordinator of Mouvement Citoyen le Temps (Citizen Movement the Time), a movement promoting democracy, human rights and citizen participation. The citizen movement aims to engage all levels of civil society in the democratic process by advocating for freedom of expression and assembly. It mainly conducts its advocacy through campaigns and public debates.
On 11 December 2020, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was found not guilty of the charges of “act of rebellion and disturbance of public order” by the Court of First Instance of N'djamena. On the same day, the defender was released from Amsinene prison where he had been detained since his arbitrary arrest on 27 November by police officers at the office of Radio FM-Liberté
Alain Kemba Didah is a human rights defender and coordinator of Mouvement Citoyen le Temps (Citizen Movement the Time), a movement promoting democracy, human rights and citizen participation. The citizen movement aims to engage all levels of civil society in the democratic process by advocating for freedom of expression and assembly. It mainly conducts its advocacy through campaigns and public debates.
On 27 November 2020, police surrounded the premises of several private radio stations to prevent the delivery of a radio statement denouncing the ban of the Forum Citoyen (Citizen Forum) by Chadian authorities on 26 November 2020. Forum Citoyen was supposed to be a citizen's forum organised by civil society organisations with the aim of giving a voice to all Chadians wishing to express themselves on subjects of public interest.
While at Radio FM-Liberté to deliver a statement denouncing the ban, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was arrested by police officers and brought to N’djamena central police station before being transferred to Amsinene central prison. On 30 November 2020, the defender was charged with ‘”act of rebellion and disturbance of public order”.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the acquittal of Alain Kemba Didah, and believes he should have never been targeted for his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Chad to guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in the country are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
On 30 November 2020, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was charged with “act of rebellion and disturbance of public order’’ by the Ndjamena Court, following his arbitrary arrest on 27 November by police officers at the office of Radio FM-Liberté. The defender is currently detained at Amsinene central prison in Ndjamena. His next hearing is scheduled for 11 December 2020.
Alain Kemba Didah is a human rights defender and coordinator of Mouvement Citoyen le Temps (Citizen Movement the Time), a movement promoting democracy, human rights and citizen participation. The citizen movement aims to engage all levels of civil society in the democratic process by advocating for freedom of expression and assembly. It mainly conducts its advocacy through campaigns and public debates.
On 26 November 2020, Chadian authorities banned the Forum Citoyen (Citizen Forum) from taking place. Forum Citoyen was supposed to be a citizen's forum organised by civil society organisations with the aim of giving a voice to all Chadians wishing to express themselves on subjects of public interest. In an effort to denounce this ban, some members of the Forum Citoyen, as well as members from other organisations such as Mouvement Citoyen le Temps, planned to hold a press conference on 27 November at the office of Radio Vison-FM. However, on 27 November, at 5 a.m., police surrounded the premises of several private radio stations, including Radio Vison-FM, and access to these places was forbidden. Police officers reportedly threw tear gas grenades towards the office of Radio FM-Liberté, which impacted several employees and journalists in training.
On 27 November, during the police intervention, human rights defender Alain Kemba Didah was arrested by police officers at the office of Radio FM-Liberté and brought to Ndjamena central police station before being transferred to Amsinene central prison. On 30 November 2020, the defender was charged with ‘”act of rebellion and disturbance of public order” due to his participation in planning the press conference on 27 November. His next hearing is scheduled for 11 December.
Alain Kemba Didah believes that this arbitrary arrest is in reprisal for his legitimate and peaceful human rights activities. The human rights defender has previously been targeted and subjected to arbitrary arrests. On 19 February 2018, Alain Didah Kemba was arrested for allegedly being about to set fire to a tyre with gasoline. However, the defender denied having been in possession of gasoline at the time of his arrest and stated that he happened to be running passed a tyre when the police stopped him. Three days after his detention, his lawyer reported that he had difficulty standing and because the police had kicked him on the joints of his legs and the soles of his feet during an interrogation. The human rights defender was released unconditionally on 26 February 2018.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned by the detention and the charges brought against Alain Kemba Didah as it strongly believes that it is directly linked to his peaceful and legitimate work in defence of human rights.
