Heavy gunfire erupted in Chad’s capital N’Djamena following a deadly assault on the headquarters of the National Security Agency (ANSE), with the government attributing the attack to the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) and its leader, Yaya Dillo, denying involvement.
The violence unfolded a day after Chad announced presidential elections scheduled for 6 May, with reports of intense gunfire near the PSF’s main office and military vehicles converging on the area.
Communication Minister Abderaman Koulamallah accused Yaya Dillo of leading the assault on the ANSE buildings, an allegation Dillo refuted, dismissing it as an attempt to intimidate him ahead of the elections.
Amid conflicting accounts, a PSF official claimed their members were attacked by soldiers while attempting to retrieve the body of their colleague, Ahmed Torabi, who they allege was arrested and killed by security forces.
Yaya Dillo denied any involvement in the alleged assassination attempt on the president of the Supreme Court, dismissing it as staged.
The government announced the arrest or pursuit of PSF members linked to the ANSE attack, vowing to prosecute anyone disrupting the ongoing democratic process.
Internet connectivity in Chad has been disrupted, according to reports by internet watchdog Netblocks.
Yaya Dillo, a prominent critic of President Mahamat Déby, has been vocal in his opposition to the current administration, which came to power in 2021 following the death of Déby’s father, who ruled for three decades.
The upcoming elections are seen as a milestone in Chad’s political transition, with President Déby yet to publicly declare his candidacy.
France, Chad’s former colonial power, has supported President Déby during the transition, despite concerns raised by both domestic and international observers.
The opposition has criticized the electoral commission, raising fears of a continuation of the Déby dynasty.
Source-BBC
