Article – The demonstrations in N’Djamena in October 2022: a poignant testimony
In October 2022, the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, was the scene of massive protests. Hundreds of people took to the streets to demand elections and the departure of the military in power. Unfortunately, this peaceful march was violently repressed by the authorities, with terrible consequences for the demonstrators.
Among these demonstrators is Stéphane Ngueto Djimrangar, a young 30-year-old poet with an unemployed graduate, caught in the clutches of repression. His moving testimony echoes the suffering endured by many of his comrades. Deported to the sinister Koro Toro prison, renowned for its high security, Stéphane was tried for his participation in what was described as an “attempted insurrection”.
In his story, Stéphane describes the merciless reality of what he calls “the penal colony of the desert”. Verses that he composed in secret from his cell give us a glimpse of the horror he experienced: “Over there, death hovers and snatches. Over there, corpses glean and walk. Over there, , it’s the place of skulls. It’s Koro Toro.” Poignant words that reflect the violence and cruelty that reign in this gloomy place.
Koro Toro prison is located two days by truck in the middle of the desert. The journey to this hell is a real ordeal for the inmates. Some are forced to drink their own urine to survive, while others see the lifeless bodies of their fellow human beings thrown overboard. On site, the conditions of detention are unbearable. The guards, former detainees including members of Boko Haram, engage in acts of torture and inhumane brutality.
Stéphane carefully keeps a suit that he made from blankets provided by the Red Cross. This clothing which serves as protection against the cold is a constant reminder of the torture he suffered, and which unfortunately led to the death of many comrades. For him, this outfit symbolizes resistance and the desire to fight for the truth.
Despite his release, Stéphane still suffers from the after-effects of his ordeal in prison. An infection contracted during his detention continues to torment him. Yet his determination to fight for change remains intact. He regrets that the changes demanded during the demonstrations have not yet materialized. Stéphane dreams of publishing his poems, in order to share his experience and his aspirations, and hopes that his prison outfit can one day be exhibited in a museum, so that the whole world can understand and remember what happened in Koro Toro.
The testimony of Stéphane Ngueto Djimrangar is poignant and echoes the struggles and suffering of many Chadian demonstrators. It reminds us of the importance of defending human rights and continuing the fight for real and lasting change. Her story is a reminder that the voices of the oppressed must be heard, and the truth must be brought to light, even in the darkest places of the world.