2007 Zoé's Ark controversy

On Tuesday, October 30th 2007, six members of the charity organization Zoe's Ark were formally charged by the government of Chad for child abduction. Despite the group's claim that the children were orphans from Sudan who were being taken to be fostered in France, most of the 103 children have been found to be Chadian, and to have at least one living parent or guardian.

Allegedly, some parents were convinced to give up their infants for promises of schooling, but had been told that the schooling would occur in Chad rather than France[1], while some children were offered sweets and biscuits to leave home[2]. These claims have been denied by the aid workers. To ensure their authenticity as Sudanese war orphans, the aid workers applied fake blood and bandages to the children.[3]

Three journalists, seven Spanish flight crew members, and four Chadian and Sudanese nationals, including two Chadian officials, were also charged for complicity.

The incident has strained relations between the two countries, ahead of a planned deployment of French peacekeeping troops into the country. Anti-French protests have been staged within Chad.[4]

French president Nicolas Sarkozy successfully negotiated the dropping of charges and release of the journalists and flight crew members prior to trial. Six members of the group were convicted on 26 December 2007 and sentenced to eight years of forced labor, although they may be able to serve the time in France, which has no forced labor in its penal system, under an accord between Chad and France. Each of the six was also ordered to pay each of the 103 victims restitution equal to approximately $87,000, which amounts to $8.9M per defendent. The founder, Eric Breteau, is among the six. A Chadian national and a Sudanese national were each also sentenced to four years. The two Chadian officials were acquitted.