At least 19 people were killed in Chad after armed fighters launched a failed attack on the presidential complex in N’Djamena on Wednesday evening. Security forces thwarted the raid, killing 18 of the 24 attackers, while one security officer lost his life during the confrontation.
Chad’s Foreign Minister and government spokesperson, Abderaman Koulamallah, assured the public that the situation was under control. “The attempt to destabilize has been thwarted,” Koulamallah said in a video statement, flanked by soldiers.
Residents of N’Djamena reported hearing intense gunfire near the presidential compound. Koulamallah later confirmed that six of the attackers were injured, alongside three security personnel, one critically. President Mahamat Idriss Deby was in the complex at the time of the attack but remained unharmed.
Footage from the scene showed military vehicles and heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets surrounding the compound. Speaking in a Facebook live broadcast, Koulamallah reiterated, “The situation is completely under control. There is no fear.”
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The attack occurred during an official visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who had earlier met with President Deby and other senior officials.
This assault comes amidst heightened security concerns in Chad, a nation prone to instability and coups. Just days prior, Chad held parliamentary elections aimed at restoring democracy. However, the main opposition parties boycotted the polls, leaving analysts to speculate that the results may further entrench President Deby’s power.
President Deby, a military leader, assumed office in 2021 after his father, who had ruled Chad for 30 years, was killed in a rebel conflict. Deby’s presidency has faced criticism, with last year’s elections widely regarded by international observers as lacking credibility.
Local residents, like Zakaria Daoud, voiced concerns about the broader implications of the attack. “This is a region already fraught with coups and instability. What happened last night only deepens our worries,” he said.
Despite these tensions, the government has expressed confidence in its ability to maintain order. “We will continue to defend the president and protect Chad’s stability,” Koulamallah affirmed.
The attack underscores the fragility of Chad’s political landscape and raises questions about the nation’s path toward democracy and stability.
