No fewer than 19 persons were killed as security forces contained a military coup in Chad.
Reports said gunmen attacked the presidential complex in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, in a deadly confrontation where one attacker was killed.
Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah confirmed the situation was under control, stating, “The situation is completely under control… the destabilization attempt was put down.”
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Gunfire erupted near the presidential palace in the evening, raised fears about the country’s security in a region where coups are rampant. Military vehicles and armed soldiers were seen on the streets, with the minister reassuring the public that there was no immediate danger, declaring, “We are here to defend our president.”
Security sources initially attributed the attack to Boko Haram, but Koulamallah dismissed this, suggesting the assailants were not terrorists but possibly intoxicated individuals.
The assailants reportedly attacked four guards before being quickly subdued. The incident came just days after Chad’s controversial parliamentary elections, which saw opposition boycotts and allegations of fraud.
The attack follows a series of significant political shifts in Chad, including the end of military agreements with France and growing ties with Russia and Hungary under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who took power in 2021 after the death of his father.
Crediblenewsng.com
