A violent attack on Chad’s presidential palace on Wednesday night has left 18 of the attackers dead and six in custody, according to AP. The attack occurred while Chadian President Mahamat Deby Itno was inside the palace, but authorities reported that the situation was quickly brought under control.
The assault also resulted in the death of one soldier and the wounding of three others.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Abderaman Koulamallah appeared in a live Facebook broadcast surrounded by soldiers, assuring the public that there was no cause for alarm. “The situation is completely under control. There is no fear,” he stated in the broadcast, which showed a seemingly calm and secure presidential palace late Wednesday night.
Koulamallah further commented on the attackers’ behavior, noting that they appeared to be disorganized and intoxicated by alcohol and drugs. He dismissed initial speculation that the attack was the work of an organized terrorist group, such as Boko Haram. The foreign minister emphasized that the attackers were believed to be local youths from the capital, N’Djamena.
The attack occurred on the same day as a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who congratulated President Deby Itno for reestablishing constitutional order in the country. In the aftermath of the attack, there were rumors circulating online that the assault had been carried out by Boko Haram, the militant group that has been causing unrest across the region for over a decade. However, Koulamallah rejected this notion.
Boko Haram is known for its insurgency against Western education and its attempts to establish Islamic law in Nigeria’s northeast. Over time, the group’s operations have spread to neighboring countries, including Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. While Chad has faced security challenges from Boko Haram in the past, this attack was more likely driven by local political or social tensions rather than by the terrorist organization.
Chad, a landlocked country of nearly 18 million people, has experienced significant political turmoil in recent years. President Mahamat Deby Itno, who assumed power as interim president following the assassination of his father, former president Idriss Deby, in 2021, has been leading the country through a period of military rule. Deby Itno’s victory in a controversial presidential election has been met with both support and criticism, contributing to the country’s ongoing political instability.