Mangalmé riots
Encyclopedia
The Mangalmé riots are clashes that erupted in central Chad
, starting in the village of Mangalmé in the Guéra Prefecture
. Here on November 1, 1965, frustration among the muslim
Moubi peasantry with what was perceived as government mismanagement and tax collection abuses erupted, rapidly involving all the Guéra Prefecture
. The central government, dominated by southern Chadians and hostile or indifferent to the mainly Muslim central and northern provinces, had just increased the head tax; it had also extended it to women, effectively doubling it. To this must be added that often corrupt local administrators imposed tax-rates that could be higher than five to six times higher than the officially established ones. Local tensions were already aggravated by a local dispute born by an attempt to usurp the region's sultan
Bachar of his position, a dispute complicated by the support given to the pretender by the Interior minister.
The revolt was brutally crushed by the army, causing five hundred persons died. Among the dead were also the local deputy to the National Assembly
and nine other government officials, killed by the rioters when they went in visit to Mangalmé. The government's harshness helped spread the rebellion from Mangalmé and nearby Batha Prefecture
to Ouaddaï
and Salamat
prefectures. It is generally believed that this event started the Chadian Civil War
, that was to last till 1993.
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, starting in the village of Mangalmé in the Guéra Prefecture
Guéra Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Guéra was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Its capital was Mongo...
. Here on November 1, 1965, frustration among the muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
Moubi peasantry with what was perceived as government mismanagement and tax collection abuses erupted, rapidly involving all the Guéra Prefecture
Guéra Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Guéra was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Its capital was Mongo...
. The central government, dominated by southern Chadians and hostile or indifferent to the mainly Muslim central and northern provinces, had just increased the head tax; it had also extended it to women, effectively doubling it. To this must be added that often corrupt local administrators imposed tax-rates that could be higher than five to six times higher than the officially established ones. Local tensions were already aggravated by a local dispute born by an attempt to usurp the region's sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Bachar of his position, a dispute complicated by the support given to the pretender by the Interior minister.
The revolt was brutally crushed by the army, causing five hundred persons died. Among the dead were also the local deputy to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Chad
The National Assembly is the parliament of Chad. It has 155 members, elected for a four year term in 25 single-member constituencies and 34 multi-member constituencies.-See also:*List of Presidents of the National Assembly of Chad...
and nine other government officials, killed by the rioters when they went in visit to Mangalmé. The government's harshness helped spread the rebellion from Mangalmé and nearby Batha Prefecture
Batha Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Batha was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Located in the center of the country, Batha covered an area of 88,800 square kilometers and had a population of 288,458 in 1993. Its capital...
to Ouaddaï
Ouaddaï Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Ouaddaï was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Located in the east of the country, Ouaddaï covered an area of 76,240 square kilometers and had a population of 543,900 in 1993. Its...
and Salamat
Salamat Prefecture
This article refers to one of the former prefectures of Chad. From 2002 the country was divided into 18 regions.Salamat was one of the 14 prefectures of Chad. Located in the southeast of the country, Salamat covered an area of 63,000 square kilometers and had a population of 184,403 in 1993...
prefectures. It is generally believed that this event started the Chadian Civil War
Chadian Civil War
The Transitional Government of National Unity was the coalition government of armed groups that nominally ruled Chad from 1979 to 1982, during the most chaotic phase of the long-running civil war that began in 1965. The GUNT replaced the fragile alliance led by Félix Malloum and Hissène Habré,...
, that was to last till 1993.