The capital of Chad, N’Djamena, is engulfed in heavy gunfire following a fatal attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency, with the government attributing the violence to the opposition party, Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF).
The government has reported several casualties in the attack and pointed fingers at PSF leader Yaya Dillo. However, Dillo vehemently denied any involvement in the assault, labeling the accusations as a “lie” and asserting that he wasn’t even present at the scene.
The incident unfolded just a day after the announcement of Chad’s presidential elections scheduled for May 6. Communication Minister Abderaman Koulamallah claimed that Yaya Dillo led the attack, a claim vehemently denied by the opposition leader, who sees it as an attempt to intimidate him and hinder his participation in the upcoming elections.
Contradictory accounts of the incident emerged, with a PSF general secretary stating that soldiers near the National Security Agency (ANSE) opened fire on party members attempting to retrieve the body of their colleague, Ahmed Torabi. The government alleges that Torabi had attempted to assassinate the president of the Supreme Court, leading to his arrest, subsequent shooting, and the dumping of his body outside the ANSE headquarters.
Yaya Dillo dismissed any connection to the alleged assassination attempt, describing it as “staged.” The government, in response, announced the arrest of PSF members linked to the ANSE headquarters attack, stating that they will face prosecution.
The situation remains tense in N’Djamena, with conflicting narratives surrounding the events, as the country grapples with political turmoil ahead of the upcoming elections.
