Gunfire erupts near Chad’s presidential palace in N’Djamena, leaving 19 dead and sparking panic throughout the capital. The intense exchange of shots, lasting several minutes, has fueled fears of a deeper crisis, with residents and observers alike growing increasingly concerned about the nation’s stability.
Chad’s foreign minister and government spokesman, Abderaman Koulamallah, said, “There were 18 dead and six injured” among the attackers, “and we suffered one death and three injured, one of them seriously.” Addressing the public on a live broadcast, he reassured citizens that the situation had been curbed and everything was under control. He emphasized that there was no need to fear and promised the government’s full dedication to protecting President Mahamat Deby Itno and ensuring security.
This incident follows the recent Chad parliamentary elections, which were meant to bring back democracy in the country. However, there were a lot of misunderstandings and disagreements, making the elections a very controversial one. Numerous opposition parties were reported to have boycotted the parliamentary elections, saying the government was unfairly using the process to tighten President Deby’s hold on power. A little backstory: President Deby took office in 2021 after his father passed away in battle. President Deby has faced harsh criticism about his methods of running the country since his assumption of office in 2021.
To complicate matters even further, the incident occurred only hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Chad. Wang had met with President Deby and other leaders to discuss economic cooperation. The timing of this incident raises concerns and questions about whether or not the gunfire was linked to internal tensions or if it was just a coincidence.
The government has assured the people that everything is under control; however, no details about the gunfire have been provided. People want to know and understand the cause of this gunfire as well as the individual or individuals responsible. The absence of this information has left many worried, but officials assure the public that the incident does not threaten public safety in any way. Still, this leaves room for many more questions.
Chad has long faced challenges like political unrest and attacks from insurgent groups. This event highlights how fragile the country’s situation is. People are on edge, watching and waiting to see how the government handles this and if they will share more information to ease concerns. More details are expected soon, which might help explain what this incident means for Chad’s future. It’s unfortunate to constantly witness issues of political chaos. We can only hope and pray that these unrests come to an end very soon. insurgent threats.
Citizens await updates, hoping for peace.