Violence Grips Capital of Chad

"Violence recently gripped the capital of the African state of Chad, with gunfire erupting near the presidential complex in N'Djamena.
Around 24 armed fighters from the jihadist militant group Boko Haram attempted to storm the presidential complex in Chad's capital on Wednesday, according to Al Arabiya.

Here is what we know so far:
President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno was inside the presidential office at the time of the attack.
Roads leading to the presidential complex were blocked, and armored vehicles along with special units were deployed for a counter-terrorism operation, Tchad 24 TV channel reported.
The infiltrators were overpowered by the presidential guard, with at least 18 assailants killed. A member of the security forces also died, according to government spokesman and Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah.
The attack coincided with an official visit to Chad by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The violence comes shortly after a general election, touted as a step towards transitioning away from military rule." MS

Ivory Coast to withdraw French troops

"Ivory Coast has announced the withdrawal of French troops, marking the end of a decades-

long military presence in the country. President Alassane Ouattara confirmed that the process will begin in January 2025, with the Port Bouët military base handed over to Ivorian forces. "We have decided on a coordinated and organized withdrawal of French forces," Ouattara said. France currently has up to 600 soldiers stationed in the country. This decision aligns with similar actions by other West African nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where anti-French sentiment has grown. France has faced military expulsions across 70% of African countries where it once maintained a presence. Recent withdrawals include Senegal and Chad, traditionally seen as strong French allies." AfricanNews

Hundreds of Chadians demonstrate for the "departure of France"

"Hundreds of people demonstrated in Chad on Friday to demand the withdrawal of French troops from the country, a week after the central African country ended a military agreement with its former colonizer.
In the capital, N'Djamena, protesters chanted "Chad for us, France out" , some holding banners reading "We don't want to see a single Frenchman in Chad" . AfricaNews

Chad Kicks French Troops Out, Abruptly Ending Defense Agreement

"The government of Chad announced on Thursday it has canceled its military cooperation pact with France, its former colonial ruler.
The decision, which took observers in both Chad and France by surprise, means the roughly 1,000 French troops stationed in Chad will have to withdraw.
“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” Chad’s Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Koulamallah said France remains an “essential partner,” but the French “must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty.” Breitbart

Russian Forces Rescue Chadian Soldiers From Militant Captivity in Joint Operation

"The Chadian Defense Minister thanked Russia for its role, emphasizing its reliability as an African partner unlike France, the UK, and the US, which he claimed solely sought to exploit African nations.

Russian soldiers successfully liberated 21 Chadian soldiers who had been held captive by illegal armed groups for nine months in a joint operation with colleagues from the Republic of Chad, the Russian Defense Ministery said.
"In Central Africa, Russian military personnel conducted a joint operation with colleagues of the Republic of Chad to liberate Chadian soldiers from captivity of militants of illegal armed groups," the statement said.
The soldiers had been captured by Islamic militants during a mine-clearing operation at an airport in the Tibesti region. They were held in inhumane conditions and tortured while held at the camp." Sputnik

Chad, Niger Kick American Soldiers Out

"U.S. forces were expelled from both Niger and Chad this week, dealing a serious blow to the Biden administration’s diplomacy and counter-terrorism policies in Africa.

Last Friday, the administration of leftist President Joe Biden announced that over a thousand U.S. military personnel would be withdrawn from Niger. The civilian government of Niger was overthrown in a July 2023 coup, leaving power in the hands of Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani." Breitbart

Several killed in attack on security HQ in Chad

"Several people have been killed in an attack on the headquarters of Chad's National Security Agency, the government says.
"The situation is now completely under control," the government said.
It said members of the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) have been arrested and will be prosecuted.
The attack in the capital, N'Djamena, came hours after the announcement that Chad will hold the presidential election on 6 May." MS

French troops begin exit from Niger

"France has begun withdrawing soldiers from its bases in Niger, with three flights carrying

French special forces personnel and equipment leaving Niame....In addition to the departures by air, the authorities stated that the first land convoy of troops in Ouallam, a town in southwestern Niger, had left “towards Chad under escort” of the Nigerien Defense and Security Forces." RT

German ambassador expelled for ‘impolite attitude’

"The government of Chad announced the expulsion of German Ambassador Jan-Christian
Gordon Kricke on Friday, giving him 48 hours to leave the country.

“This decision of the government is motivated by the impolite attitude and the non-respect of diplomatic customs,” the Chadian Communications Ministry said. Chadian government source as saying that Kricke was “interfering too much” in the country’s affairs and making divisive remarks. Reuters, meanwhile, quoted sources as saying that Chad decided to expel the envoy due to his comments about the delay in the country’s transition to civilian rule after a coup two years ago." RT

Why Nigerien Protesters Want French Army Out & Wave Russian Flags

"The latest protests in Niger were organized by the M62 movement, a group of NGOs which reportedly describes itself as "peaceful" and committed to "the dignity and sovereignty of the Nigerien people." Seydou Abdoulaye, the coordinator of the M62 Movement, told Agence France Presse (AFP) that Nigeriens demand the immediate departure of French troops from Niger as the military deployment violates Niger's sovereignty and destabilizes the Sahel.

France has beefed up its presence in Sahel since January 2013 when it launched Operation Serval to halt the advance of a coalition of Tuareg rebel and Islamist fighters in Mali. The French intervention came on the heels of the 2011 destruction of Libya by NATO. Following the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi’s government by NATO-backed rebels, the power vacuum saw greater destabilization in the region. The French-led Operation Barkhane succeeded Operation Serval in August 2014: approximately 4,500 French troops were deployed between Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.

The fact that Nigeriens carried Russian flags during the protests could be explained by the people's belief that "Russia’s presence in the region may rescue them and Russia as a strong nation is maybe able to secure the region by fighting the insurgency," according to Dr. Ismael Buchanan.

On the other hand, the pro-Russian sentiment in Niger could be driven by Mali's decision to invite Russian military advisers from the PMC Wagner Group to cope with the rebel and jihadism threat following France's unilateral decision to pull out from the country." Sputnik