Fatal Attack on Presidential Headquarter, 18 Assailants Killed, 6 Arrested

N'Djamena, Chad(The Uttam Hindu): A major assault on the palace of Chad's President, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, took place today, resulting in the death of 18 assailants and the arrest of six individuals. The attack also led to the death of one soldier, with three others sustaining injuries.

At the time of the attack, President Deby Itno was inside the palace. However, authorities quickly brought the situation under control. Chad's Foreign Minister, Abderaman Koulamallah, reassured the public in a live Facebook broadcast that "the situation is completely under control, and there is nothing to fear." In a TV interview, Koulamallah praised the palace guards' vigilance and assured citizens that the situation remained calm, urging them not to panic. He also described the attackers as disorganized and intoxicated, adding that the assailants were local youths from the capital city, N'Djamena.

When asked if the attack could be classified as a terrorist act, the minister suggested that it likely wasn’t, as the attackers were local. The incident occurred shortly after a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to meet with Chad officials in the capital.

Following the attack, rumors began circulating that the assault may have been orchestrated by the extremist group Boko Haram, which has been active in the region for over a decade. Boko Haram, originally focused on opposing Western education, seeks to establish Islamic law in northeastern Nigeria, and its influence has spread to neighboring countries including Cameroon, Niger, and Chad.

Chad, a country of approximately 18 million people, has been experiencing political instability, particularly before and after a controversial presidential election.