Breaking News: Exchange of Fire at Chad President‘s Residence; 19 Dead, Including 18 Attackers
bara. The fate of the attackers is still unknown. The situation is under control, according to a government minister who posted on Facebook.
In an update just before midnight, authorities announced that 19 people have been killed, with 18 of them being the attackers, according to AFP. Nine people have been injured.
The incident comes amidst political tension in Chad, which has struggled with poverty and unrest since gaining independence from France in 1960. The country has also been hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
Militancy has been a persistent issue in Chad, with various groups vying for power and the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram carrying out attacks in the country. Chad has had a defense agreement with France for several decades, but in 2024, Chad’s government ended the agreement after accusing France of not providing support after Boko Haram killed 40 Chadian soldiers in October 2023. The French military subsequently withdrew from the country.
Tensions further escalated in October 2024 when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that Sahel countries had "forgotten" to thank France for its role in fighting jihadist groups. This statement sparked strong reactions from Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who dismissed Macron’s comments as "bordering on disrespect for Africa and Africans."
President Idriss Déby’s son, Mahamat Déby Itno, took power after his father was killed by rebel forces in 2021. He installed a military council to govern the country. Originally set for an 18-month transition period, the military junta’s rule was extended by two years in 2022, sparking large protests. Mahamat Déby Itno went on to win the presidential election in May 2024, though opposition figures have alleged voting irregularities.
Parliamentary elections were held at the end of December 2024, marking the first such election in 13 years, as part of efforts to end military rule. Results are expected later in January. Several opposition parties have called for a boycott of the elections, citing concerns about manipulated results.
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