Turmoil in Chad: Operation launched against those who carried out armed attack on Presidential Palace

An attack was carried out on the Presidential Palace located in N'Djamena, the capital of the Central African country of Chad.

According to reports in the local press, 18 of the attackers were killed and 9 were captured injured in a clash that broke out between presidential guards and armed individuals targeting the palace in the Djambel Bahr neighborhood around the Presidential Palace yesterday evening.

One government official lost their life in the armed attack, which lasted approximately one hour and was brought under control by security forces as of 21:30 local time.

The Chadian government announced that the situation is completely under control and that there is no serious danger.

However, no official information has been shared yet regarding the identity of the attackers.

While some sources suggest that the Boko Haram terrorist organization may have carried out the attack, authorities have not made a clear assessment regarding these claims.

The Chadian government described the attack as a "coup attempt," while it was not disclosed whether President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was in the palace during the attack.

In videos shared on social media following the attack, it was seen that the deceased attackers were in civilian clothing.

TRANSITION PERIOD THAT BEGAN WITH THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT IDRISS DÉBY ITNO

President Idriss Déby Itno was killed on the front line on April 19, 2021, during an operation against the separatist group "Front for Change and Concord in Chad" (FACT) in the north of the country.

Subsequently, his 37-year-old son, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, was appointed head of the Transitional Military Council, consisting of 15 generals, on April 20, 2021.

Itno had promised that elections would be held after an 18-month transition period, that power would be transferred to civilians, and that he would not be a candidate; however, at the National Dialogue Forum held on October 9, 2022, which coincided with the end of the period, the transition period was extended by another 2 years, and Itno was allowed to be a candidate in the elections planned for 2024.

Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was elected president by receiving 61 percent of the votes in the election held on May 6.

CHAD TERMINATED DEFENSE AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

The Chadian government announced on November 28, 2024, that the security and defense cooperation agreement with France had ended.

Some of the French soldiers began withdrawing from Chad on December 10.

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno had announced that France would withdraw completely from the country by January 31, 2025.