Chad’s Independent Anti-Corruption Authority (AILC) has accused the National State Security Agency (ANSE) of violently disrupting an audit at the Chad Hydrocarbons Company (SHT), alleging that armed and masked agents detained and assaulted its investigators.
According to the AILC, its auditors had been examining SHT’s financial management since July, including invoices related to crude oil sales to Glencore. The authority alleges that ANSE agents intervened after SHT management provided documents that had reportedly been withheld for an extended period.
The AILC says its team was handcuffed and taken to ANSE headquarters, where members were allegedly held for several hours while their phones and computers were confiscated. The authority also claims that another group attempted to enter its headquarters and arrest its director.
The anti-corruption body described the incident as a serious threat to its institutional independence and said its officials are protected by legal immunity while performing their duties. It vowed to continue the audit at SHT and said it would refer the matter to President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, seeking criminal, administrative and disciplinary action against those allegedly involved.
The AILC said the incident would not deter its commitment to transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.
