Chad Facing the Peril of Religious Extremism
Photo: Chadian sociologist Aché Ahmat Moustapha
By: The Editorial Team of Charilogone
In a country where social and political divisions are deepening, the voice of intellectuals resonates with particular force. Chadian sociologist Aché Ahmat Moustapha, in a message published on her Facebook page, sounded the alarm: “Religious extremism in Chad is truly very dangerous if nothing is done… Even its intellectuals are involved in it! Poor country.”
This direct and uncompromising statement illustrates the gravity of a phenomenon that no longer confines itself to the vulnerable margins of society, but infiltrates even the intellectual circles that are supposed to defend reason and tolerance. Written in Charilogone’s incisive and analytical style, this text can be interpreted as a warning against a drift that threatens national stability.
Chad, like many African countries, finds itself at a crossroads: the rise of religious extremism, fueled by poverty, institutional instability, and community tensions, threatens to fragment the social fabric. The radicalization of the elites, highlighted by the sociologist, reveals an even deeper danger: the normalization of extremist discourse within the spheres of knowledge and power.
The analysis of these remarks underscores the urgency of a collective and structured response:
Strengthening civic and religious education to counter radical ideologies.
Reaffirming secularism as the foundation of peaceful coexistence.
Mobilizing African and international actors to prevent a crisis likely to spread beyond Chad’s borders.
Thus, Aché Ahmat Moustapha’s alarm is not merely a personal expression of indignation; it is part of a broader reflection on the future of Chad and Africa, where religious extremism, if left unchecked, risks becoming a structural threat to the stability and cohesion of societies.
Leave A Comment