Chad appealed to the international community for enhanced support in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel, following a devastating surprise attack by Boko Haram jihadists that resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 Chadian troops.
The assault occurred late Sunday at a military garrison in the Lake Chad region, a hotspot for various armed groups.
In a statement released on Tuesday by government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah, the authorities expressed their sorrow over the loss of “brave Chadian soldiers.” The attack also left around 20 others wounded, according to military sources.
“The government is calling on the international community to intensify its support and to reinforce assistance in counter-terrorism efforts, particularly in the Sahel region and Lake Chad basin,” the statement emphasized.
“Determined collective action is essential to eradicate this scourge which threatens the stability and development of the entire region,” the statement continued.
In response to the attack, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno initiated a military operation to track down the assailants.
The statement confirmed that “security forces are currently in full pursuit of the assailants.”
France’s embassy in Chad expressed solidarity with the nation in a Facebook post on Tuesday, stating, “France stands with Chad in the fight against terrorism” and extended condolences to the authorities and families of the fallen soldiers.
Chad, a long-time ally of France and currently led by the son of former President Idriss Deby Itno, is the last Sahel nation to host French troops.
The country is surrounded by the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, and Niger, all of which harbor Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner group.
Despite the current administration’s efforts to strengthen ties with Moscow in recent months, discussions regarding concrete economic cooperation with Russia have yet to yield tangible results.
The Lake Chad region’s vast waterways and swampy terrain provide refuge for jihadist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), which frequently target both military and civilian populations.
Boko Haram’s insurgency, which began in Nigeria in 2009, has claimed more than 40,000 lives and displaced two million people, subsequently spreading its violence to neighboring countries.
In March 2020, Chad experienced its most significant one-day military loss in the region, with around 100 troops killed in an attack on the Bohoma peninsula.
In response to the recent tragedy, the Chadian government has declared three days of national mourning beginning Tuesday, with flags flown at half-mast and a prohibition on celebratory activities.
