A group of armed assailants launched an attack on the presidential palace in Chad’s capital, leading to the deaths of at least 19 people, most of whom were the attackers. The incident occurred on Wednesday in N’Djamena, the capital of the Central African country, according to government officials.
Journalists from the French news agency AFP reported that late on Wednesday night, additional security measures and roadblocks near the presidential palace were removed, and traffic in the area has since returned to normal.
The clash between heavily armed attackers and security forces took place around 8 PM local time near the presidential palace in central N’Djamena, the military-ruled country’s capital.
Government spokesperson and Foreign Minister Abderaman Koullamallah stated that a commando unit of at least 24 members, armed with “weapons and knives,” attacked the guards of the presidential palace. The security forces quickly neutralized the attackers.
He said the group of attackers wore civilian clothes and came from a poor neighborhood in the southern part of the city. Koullamallah described the attackers as helpless criminals.
According to the government spokesperson, one attacker was killed, and six were injured. In the clash, one security guard of the presidential palace was killed, and three others were injured.
Hours after the confrontation, a video posted on Facebook showed Koullamallah armed and speaking to soldiers. Surrounded by soldiers and with a gun tucked into his belt, he said, “The situation is fully under control… Attempts to create instability have been suppressed.”
He told AFP that during the attack, Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was inside the presidential palace. However, the foreign minister did not provide further details.
The opposition has expressed skepticism about the government’s account of the attack. Max Kemkoye, spokesperson for the country’s opposition group Political Actors Consultation Group (GCAP), described the incident as a “regrettable summary” and a “staged drama” orchestrated by those in power.
Foreign Minister Abderaman Koullamallah said he would brief foreign diplomats in the country later today about the attack. Government prosecutors are also expected to issue a statement regarding the incident.