Pétition on “Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh”
A petition of the international mathematical community, following the initiative of the Mathematical Societies of France, SFdS, SMAI et SMF.
Mr. President of the Republic of Chad,
Mr. President of the French Republic,
We want to know the truth concerning our colleague, the mathematician Ibni Oumar Mahamet Saleh, a Chadian politician and former minister. He has been abducted from his home on February 3, 2008 and we have no news from him since then.
Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh is, beyond his political activities, an active member of the mathematical community.
He completed his mathematical education at Université d’Orleans, where he defended his PhD thesis in 1978. He was appointed Professor at the Université de N’Djamena in 1985. His numerous positions at the University included
- the Chair of the Department of Mathematics (1985),
- the direction of the Center of Scientific Research (1986),
- the Rectorship (1990-1991).
In spite of his heavy administrative and ministerial duties, Ibni Oumar Mahamet Saleh succeeded always in maintaining a high level of teaching standards. In order to improve the scientific level of teachers at the University of N’Djamena, he negotiated in 1991 a collaboration between the University of Orléans and the University of N’Djamena, in association with INSA in Lyon and the University of Avignon. This agreement is still in force. It has been very successful. In addition to its goal of training, it has allowed Chadian teachers to establish stable and fruitful contacts with European and African Universities. Even called to other responsibilities, Ibni Oumar Mahamet Saleh was instrumental in the success of the project. He visited several times the department of mathematics in Orléans in this framework.
Since February 3, contradictory information circulates on Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh. The two other opponents, who were arrested the same day, have been released. One of them thinks that our colleague died, while his family thinks that he is always alive.
We want to know the truth.