At least 19 people were killed in a violent conflict in Chad after security forces intervened to prevent armed fighters from assaulting the presidential compound in N’djamena.
The government said that 18 of the 24 assailants were killed during the failed raid on the president’s office on Wednesday evening, and one security officer was also slain in the struggle.
The country’s foreign minister informed the people that soldiers were protecting the president and that everything was under control.
Residents in N’Djamena reported hearing multiple gunshots for several minutes near the presidential compound.
“Eighteen attackers were killed and six others sustained injuries, while we experienced one fatality and three injuries, one of which is serious,” stated Chad’s foreign minister and government spokesperson, Abderaman Koulamallah.
Following the incident, Koulamallah emerged in a video, accompanied by soldiers and holding a firearm, claiming that the situation was under control. “The attempt to destabilise has failed.”
This assault occurred during China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s official visit to Chad.
Wang Yi met with Chad’s President, Mahamat Idris Deby, and other high-ranking officials just hours before the violence broke out.
Koulamallah confirmed that Deby was in the presidential complex during the attack.
Zakaria Daoud, a local resident, expressed concerns about the security situation in a region known for its frequent coups.
Foreign Affairs Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, appearing in a Facebook live broadcast alongside soldiers, stated, “The situation is completely under control, there is no fear.”
He emphasised their commitment to defending the president.
This incident occurred roughly a week after parliamentary elections aimed at restoring democracy, which were boycotted by the main opposition.
The election results are still pending, but analysts anticipate the vote would strengthen President Mahamat Deby Itno’s grip on power.
Deby Itno rose to power as a military leader following the death of his father, who had ruled for thirty years, during a fight with rebels in 2021.
He was elected president last year in a vote that international observers thought questionable.
