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Terrorists attack the Presidential Palace in Chad
Terrorists attack the Presidential Palace in Chad
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Gunmen attempted to storm the presidential complex in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, on Wednesday, triggering a violent confrontation that resulted in the deaths of 18 attackers and one security personnel member, the government confirmed.
AFP reporters present near the scene reported hearing gunfire and witnessing tanks deployed on the streets as security forces responded to the assault. Armed men reportedly tried to overrun the complex but were repelled after a fierce battle.
Government spokesperson and Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah later confirmed, "There were 18 dead and six injured among the attackers, and we suffered one death and three injured, one of them seriously."
Following the clashes, Koulamallah appeared in a video posted on Facebook, surrounded by soldiers and visibly armed, stating, "The situation is completely under control… the destabilisation attempt was put down."
A security source initially identified the attackers as members of the Boko Haram jihadist group. However, Koulamallah later dismissed this claim, clarifying that the assailants were “probably not” terrorists but instead referred to them as drunken “Pieds Nickeles” — a nod to a French comic about bumbling crooks. He further revealed, "They attacked four guards before entering the presidential complex, where they were easily overpowered," adding that the surviving attackers were "completely drugged."
Chad, a landlocked nation under military rule, frequently faces attacks by Boko Haram, particularly in the western Lake Chad region bordering Cameroon, Nigeria, and Niger. The nation recently terminated a military agreement with France, its former colonial power, and has faced accusations of involvement in the ongoing conflict in neighboring Sudan.
Security sources reported that an armed commando unit opened fire inside the presidency around 7:45 pm local time (1845 GMT) before being subdued by the presidential guard. Roads leading to the presidency were immediately blocked, and tanks were deployed, with civilians rushing out of the city center amid heightened security.
The attack occurred just hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and other senior officials. Koulamallah confirmed that President Deby was present in the complex at the time but was unharmed.
Tensions with France
Chad recently ended its defense and security cooperation with France, calling the agreements "obsolete." Around 1,000 French troops stationed in the country are in the process of withdrawing. France has already been expelled from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger under similar circumstances, while Senegal and Ivory Coast have also requested the departure of French troops.
Post-Election Unrest
The gunfire erupted less than two weeks after Chad held a controversial general election, which the government described as a step towards civilian rule. However, the polls were marked by low turnout and opposition allegations of fraud. A boycott by opposition parties left the field open for candidates aligned with President Deby, who first assumed power in 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Deby, who ruled Chad for three decades.
Despite being an oil producer, Chad ranks among the lowest in the United Nations Human Development Index. To strengthen his authority, Deby has reshuffled the army, historically dominated by the Zaghawas and Gorane ethnic groups, to consolidate power.
On the diplomatic front, President Deby has been seeking new strategic partnerships with countries such as Russia and Hungary as the nation's geopolitical alliances shift.
