Bloody attack on the presidential office in Chad: 19 dead!

Bloody attack on the presidential office in Chad: 19 dead!

In a dramatic incident in the capital N’Djamena, Chad, security forces have thwarted an armed attack on the presidential palace. At least 19 people died in this failed attack, including 18 attackers and a member of the security forces. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening and causes excitement in the region.

The attacking men who were reporting in three vehicles tried to storm military bases around the president's office. A security officer who wanted to remain anonymous described the incident as a "attempted terrorist attack". But the Chadische Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah made it clear that the attackers were probably not rebels, but rather described as "Pieds Nickeles" - an allusion to a French comic figure.

an attack on the wrong time

The attack took place only hours after an official visit to the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who met President Mahamat Idriss Deby and other high -ranking government officials. At that time, Deby was in the presidential palace. Koulamallah said in a video, surrounded by soldiers and with a gun on the belt that "the situation was completely under control" and that the attempt to destabilize failed.

The shots echoed through the streets, while residents reported on noisy fires. The incident occurred less than two weeks after a controversial parliamentary election, which was celebrated by the government as an important step to end military rule, but was overshadowed by allegations of election fraud and low voter turnout.

a country in upheaval

chad, a former French colonial country, is rich in oil resources, but is one of the poorest countries in Africa. The political situation is tense, especially after the death of long -time President Idriss Deby in 2021, which was killed by rebels. His son, Mahamat Idriss Deby, took over and is now faced with the challenge of securing the country's stability.

The French military bases in the region, which were most recently stationed in Chad, are also under pressure. At the end of November, the chad government ended the defense and security agreements with Paris, which were described as "outdated". This happened in the context of a broader withdrawal of French troops from several Sahel countries that are ruled by military governments that are hostile to France.

The situation in Chad remains tense, and the latest events raise questions about the future stability of the country and the role of international actors. The population is concerned while the government is trying to keep control and ensure security.

-transmitted by West-Ost-Medien