A deadly assault unfolded in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, on Wednesday evening when gunmen attempted to storm the presidential complex.
According to the government, the attack left 19 people dead, including 18 assailants and one member of the security forces.
The incident began around 7:45 p.m. local time, when armed attackers opened fire inside the presidential compound, sparking an intense firefight.
Government spokesman and Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah confirmed the casualties and added that six attackers and three security personnel were injured, with one security officer in serious condition.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire near the compound, while tanks and armed police were deployed on the streets. Roads leading to the complex were blocked off, and panicked civilians fled the area on motorcycles and in cars.
Koulamallah later addressed the public through a Facebook video, assuring that “the situation is completely under control” and describing the attackers as heavily drugged and poorly organized.
While some security sources initially suspected the assailants were linked to Boko Haram, Koulamallah dismissed the claim, stating they were “probably not” terrorists but rather disorganized individuals under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The attack occurred just hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno inside the complex. Deby, who has been in power since 2021, was unharmed during the incident.
