At least 19 people, including 18 attackers and one security officer, were killed in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, during a violent clash late Wednesday. Armed assailants attempted to storm the presidential compound, prompting security forces to intervene in a deadly confrontation.
According to Foreign Minister and government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah, “Eighteen attackers were killed, and six others sustained injuries. Unfortunately, we lost one of our own, with three others injured, one critically.”
The attack, which occurred during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s official visit to Chad, sparked intense gunfire around the compound. Residents reported hearing sustained shooting for several minutes.
President Mahamat Idris Deby was inside the complex at the time, Koulamallah confirmed. “The situation is completely under control, and there is no fear,” he stated during a Facebook live broadcast alongside armed soldiers. In a separate video, Koulamallah, holding a firearm, declared, “The attempt to destabilize has failed.”
The assault has heightened concerns about Chad’s security. Zakaria Daoud, a local resident, expressed unease, noting the country’s history of coups and instability.
This incident came just days after Chad held parliamentary elections aimed at transitioning toward democracy, though the main opposition boycotted the polls. Results have not yet been announced, but analysts believe they will consolidate Deby’s hold on power.
President Deby ascended to leadership in 2021 following the death of his father, who ruled Chad for 30 years. Deby was formally elected president last year in a controversial vote that drew criticism from international observers.
