2025 N'Djamena attack
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (January 2025) |
| 2025 N'Djamena attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of Boko Haram insurgency | |
| Location | Presidential Palace in N'Djamena, Chad |
| Date | January 8, 2025 8:45 pm (WAT) |
| Deaths | 19 killed (including 18 perpetrators)[1] |
| Injured | 9+ injured (including 6 perpetrators)[1] |
| Perpetrator | Boko Haram |
No. of participants | 24 |
On 8 January 2025 at around 8:45 pm,[2][3] gunfire broke out in N'Djamena, Chad,[4] near the presidential palace.[2][4][5][6]
Background
[edit]Since 2014, Boko Haram has been active in western Chad, launching cross-border attacks from the Nigerian border against civilian and military targets in western Chad.[7] In 2024, attacks by the militant group in Chad intensified, culminating in a raid on a Chadian military base near the village of Ngouboua, which left 40 Chadian soldiers dead.[8]
The increased violence by the group comes amid a withdrawal of French forces from the region.[9] France, traditionally a strong ally of the Chadian government, has provided military aid to Chad in the previous decades, offering training for the Chadian military and intervening with airstrikes against insurgents.[10] On November 29, 2024, during a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to N'Djamena, the Chadian government announced an end to Chad's defense agreement with France, and requested French military personnel leave the country.[11] By December, most French troops had left Chad, with the remaining troops due to leave by the end of January.[12]
Events
[edit]At least 24 armed men, belonging to Boko Haram,[13][14][15] attacked the interior of the presidential palace[2][16] in a mass shooting[14] and car bombing[17] attack.[18] Chadian President Mahamat Déby was inside the Palace at the time of the attack.[15] According to Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, 18 attackers were killed and six were injured, while one member of the security forces was killed and three were injured, one seriously.[1]
The attack happened hours after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited the capital.[2] Civilians rushed out in cars and motorcycles.[19][3]
In response to the attack, the Chadian Army blocked all roads leading to the presidential palace,[20] and defense and armored personnel were deployed on the streets,[13] driving towards the palace.[4] Tanks could be seen in the capital.[19]
Reactions
[edit]Domestic
[edit]
Infrastructure Minister Aziz Mahamat Saleh posted on his Facebook page, "No serious, no panic, the situation is under control."[13] Abderaman Koulamallah said in a video posted on Facebook "It was a little incident ... everything is calm, This whole attempt at destabilization has been wiped out."[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Fighting At Chad Presidency Leaves 19 Dead Including 18 Attackers: Government". Barron's. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b c d "Tchad: tirs nourris dans le centre de N'Djamena, près de la présidence". Le Figaro (in French). 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b Dakaractu. "Tchad: tirs nourris dans le centre de N'Djamena, près de la présidence". DAKARACTU.COM (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b c d "Chad: Gunfire heard near presidency in N'Djamena – DW – 01/08/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Gunshots heard near presidency in Chad capital N'Djamena, residents and AFP say". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Maduro: Beyond the Brink of Power | Politics". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "A Decade After Chibok: Assessing Nigeria's Regional Response to Boko Haram". Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Jihadist attack near Lake Chad leaves 40 dead, president orders retaliation". Radio France Internationale. 2024-10-28. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Frexit: Why Ivory Coast is joining African campaign to expel French troops". Al Jazeera. 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "France hands over first base in Chad during withdrawal from former colony". Al Jazeera. 2025-12-26. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "Chad breaks off defense agreement with France, a slap in the face for Paris". Le Monde. 2025-11-29. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ "French hands over first military base as part of withdrawal from Chad". Radio France Internationale. 2025-12-27. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
- ^ a b c Alwihda. "Tchad : situation sous contrôle après des tirs nourris d'armes à N'Djamena". Alwihda Info - Actualités TCHAD, Afrique, International (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b "بعد إطلاق نار قرب القصر الرئاسي.. السلطات التشادية: الوضع تحت السيطرة". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b "قتلى وجرحى بهجوم لبوكو حرام على القصر الرئاسي في تشاد". العربية (in Arabic). 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Gunfire heard near the presidency of Chad's capital, military vehicles seen". Reuters.
- ^ "تشاد.. محاولة لاقتحام قصر الرئاسة بسيارة مفخخة". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Attaque au Tchad: Une fusillade éclate près du palais présidentiel à N'Djamena". Tribune de Genève (in French). 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Gunfire Heard Near Presidency In Chad Capital: AFP". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Gunfire heard near presidency in Chad's capital N'Djamena". France 24. 2025-01-08. Retrieved 2025-01-08.