Gunmen near Chad’s presidential palace shot and neutralized by security forces
After gunshots were heard around the palace, palace sources reached by AA shared information that a vehicle containing armed individuals attempting to enter the campus was blocked by the presidential guards. The occupants were neutralized, and the situation was brought under control. As of now, no official statement has been released regarding the incident.
The transition period in Chad began with the death of President Idris Debi Itno, who was killed on April 19, 2021, during an operation against the separatist group “Front for Change and Harmony in Chad” (FACT). Following his death, his 37-year-old son, Mohammed Idris Debi Itno, was appointed as the head of the Military Transitional Council on April 20, 2021. Itno had initially promised elections after an 18-month transition period, with power to be transferred to civilians. However, the transition period was extended for an additional 2 years at the National Dialogue Forum held on October 9, 2022. Itno was ruled ineligible to run in the elections scheduled for 2024, and Muhammed Idris Debi Itno was elected president with 61 percent of the votes in the May 6 elections.
In a significant move, the Chad government terminated its security and defense cooperation agreement with France on November 28, 2024. This decision led to the withdrawal of some French soldiers from Chad starting on December 10. President Muhammed Idris Debi Itno announced that France will completely withdraw from the country by January 31, 2025.
Regarding the recent incident of gunshots around the palace, Koulamallah, in a statement in front of the presidential palace, assured the public that the situation was under control and considered it a minor incident. He emphasized that all threats were neutralized by security forces and that further details about the incident would be promptly shared with the public.
