Clashes between gold miners in Chad's north last week left more than 100 people dead and 40 others injured, the country’s minister of defense said Monday.
Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim said the fighting, which took place in the Kouri Bougoudi district, broke out at night in the mining sites. He cited a government fact-finding mission, but did not identify the cause of the violence.
The area is home to many unregulated mines where people search for gold.
Chadian authorities have suspended informal mining operations in Kouri Bougoudi and evacuated people from the area.
Chad's communication minister said last week that the clashes were between Arabs who crossed the border from Libya and the Tama community who hail from eastern Chad.
The country is involved in a fight against terrorism and rebel groups who threaten to topple the interim government led by the son of late president Idriss Deby.
However, there was no indication that terrorist or criminal groups played a role in the mining violence.
