Security forces in Chad have thwarted an overnight assault on the presidential compound, killing 18 armed attackers, officials said. The attack comes amid heightened tensions following Chad’s decision to scrap a defense pact with France.
Authorities revealed the assailants feigned a vehicle breakdown outside the compound before launching their attack, which killed two security guards and injured five others. “These individuals appeared intoxicated and disorganized, armed only with knives and machetes,” government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah stated on national television.
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Investigations are underway to determine the motives and potential accomplices. Speculation ranges from ethnic unrest to fallout from the ongoing war in neighboring Sudan. Security analyst Enrica Picco noted the rapid response suggests the presidency was already on alert, adding, “Tensions remain high as Deby faces enemies eager to challenge his authority.”
The incident underscores Chad’s precarious position in a region rife with Islamist insurgencies and political instability. The country, rich in oil yet one of Africa’s poorest, has faced escalating challenges since President Mahamat Idriss Deby took power in 2021.
Daily life resumed in N’Djamena on Thursday, but heightened security measures around the presidency reflect the fragile calm. “It’s too early to draw conclusions,” a local security official said, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the attackers’ identities and intentions.
