The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate L’Union des journalistes Tchadien (UJT) in condemning this act of brutality and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

According to media reports, opposition and civil society groups in Chad had called for the protest to mark " the end of the 18-month period initially agreed upon for the transition period.” Hundreds of Chadians took to the streets in N’Djamena and other cities to protest against the extension of the transitional military council headed by General Mahamat Idriss Deby, demanding a “quicker transition to democratic rule”.  At least 50 people were reportedly killed, including journalist Oredje Narcisse and about 300 people were confirmed wounded.

Chadian Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said that the protest had quickly become an “armed uprising.” 

UJT in a press release issued on Friday 21 October denounced Oredje's killing as a severe blow to the media profession in Chad as the profession has been deprived of a young and promising journalist with a great future. The UJT called for an independent investigation into the murder of their colleague and for the perpetrator(s) to be brought to justice.

The IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger said that the shooting of unarmed civilians by the security forces is totally unacceptable. “ The security forces should have taken adequate measures to protect civilians and journalists' lives. It is disheartening to note that an unarmed journalist who was covering a protest was gunned down in cold blood. Such brutal and inhumane acts can only be described as deliberate and an attempt to silence the media.”

The IFJ joins its affiliate, UJT in calling for an independent an impartial investigation into the murder of Oredje Narcisse and all civilians killed on Thursday and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.