Following reports of gunshots near the presidential palace, the Chadian authorities has stated that the situation in Capitol N’Djamena is stable.
Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah stated in a video that a “little incident” occurred within the palace complex, but that “everything is calm.”
According to sources close to the African state’s administration, security personnel clashed with “terrorist elements.”
Koulamallah stated that 18 attackers and a member of the security forces had been killed.
Read also: https://www.tvcnews.tv/2025/01/at-least-19-persons-dead-after-attack-on-chads-presidential-complex/
Since separating from France in 1960, Chad, a landlocked nation in northern-central Africa, has seen many periods of instability and conflict, most recently between government forces and those of the Islamist organization Boko Haram.
After his father, Idriss Déby, was killed in combat with rebel forces after 30 years in power, the military installed President Mahamat Déby as its leader in 2021.
Tanks were spotted nearby after the Wednesday incident, and reports say all routes leading to the palace were blocked.
In a video posted to Facebook, Koulamallah is seen surrounded by members of the government forces.
“Nothing serious has happened,” he said.
“We are here, and we will defend our country at the price of our blood. Be calm.
“This whole attempt at destabilisation has been thwarted.”
Koulamallah was quoted as saying the assault had been launched by a 24-man commando unit, adding that six of the attackers had suffered injuries.
A further three members of the government forces also suffered injuries, he added.
The incident happened a few hours after China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the former French territory and spoke with Déby and other high-ranking officials.
The administration of Chad hailed a round of parliamentary elections held late last month as the first step toward a shift from military to civilian governance.
However, due to worries of voter fraud, opposition groups asked their members to abstain from voting.
Chad historically had a French military base, which was used to give logistical and intelligence support to the Chadian army, as well as participate in regional counter-terrorism operations.
In November, it terminated its defence cooperation pact with France, which Koulamallah claimed would allow Chad to “assert its full sovereignty.”
Chad is also part of the Coup Belt, an area spanning Africa that has become notorious for a series of military coups since 2020, including those in Mali, Niger, and Sudan.
