In an interview with Jeune-Afrique in June 1999, Youssouf Togoïmi stated that his wife and children were still living in N'Djamena (8-14 June 1999).

The following information was supplied by the president of the Chadian Human Rights League (Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme-LTDH) in a 27 June 2000 telephone interview.

Youssouf Togoïmi's wife and children are in N'Djamena and are still living under the threat of reprisals by the Chadian authorities; they have already suffered ill-treatment at the hands of the army and the security services. The children cannot attend school. The acts of brutality and intimidation committed against the Togoïmi family have been publicly exposed by the LTDH as well as in numerous articles in the Chadian press.

The president of the LTDH was unable to supply any information regarding the other members of the Togoïmi family. However, he did point out that in a country like Chad, there is collective responsibility for dissent and for participation in a rebel movement, and that the family members of dissidents and rebels suffer the consequences, even if they are not directly involved.

This information was corroborated by the editor-in-chief of the Chadian newspaper Le Temps in a 27 June 2000 telephone interview.

Journalists working for Le Temps have written a number of articles about the Togoïmi family; they have had to face considerable difficulties in order to contact the family, and have been threated and intimidated by the security services. According to the editor-in-chief, the Togoïmi family is still living in N'Djamena. However, the family home is under constant surveillance by the security services. Mrs. Togoïmi no longer lives in the house, and her car has been confiscated by the authorities.

No additional information regarding the situation of the Togoïmi family could be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 8-14 June 1999. No. 2004. Youssouf Togoïmi's interview with Francis Kpatindé. "Youssouf Togoïmi : Négocier avec Deby? Ceux qui ont essayé sont morts." http://www.jeuneafrique.com/archives/2004p30.htm [Accessed 26 June 2000]

Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'homme (LTDH). 27 June 2000. Telephone interview with the president.

Le Temps [N'Djamena]. 27 June 2000. Telephone interview with the editor-in-chief.

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet Sources, including:

Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Fédération internationale des Ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH)

Relief Web. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

World News Connection (WNC)