Gunfire broke out near the presidential complex in N’Djamena, Chad, on January 8, as 24 armed fighters from the terrorist militant group Boko Haram attempted to storm the area.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was inside the presidential office during the attack. Roads were quickly blocked, and armored vehicles, along with special units, were deployed for a counter-terrorism operation, according to Tchad 24 TV.
The Chadian government reported that the presidential guard overpowered the infiltrators, killing at least 18 assailants. One member of the security forces also lost their life during the confrontation.
Government spokesman and Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah assured the public that the attempt at destabilization had been thwarted, stating in a video post that the attackers were “probably not” rebels.
The attack came just after French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statements amid heightened tensions, coinciding with a visit from China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and shortly after Chad’s general elections aimed at transitioning from military rule.
This comes as Chad faces persistent security challenges from Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and regional shifts following its demand for the withdrawal of French military forces last November.
