Chadian Army Repels Boko Haram Attack on Presidential Palace, Many Killed

Armed men affiliated with Boko Haram launched an assault on the presidential palace in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, on the evening of January 8, 2025. The attack, which occurred just days after the country held a contested general election, was swiftly repelled by Chadian forces, according to government sources.

The assailants, identified as members of the jihadist group Boko Haram, sought to breach the presidential compound but were thwarted by a quick and decisive response from the Chadian military.

Several attackers were neutralised in the ensuing gunfire, and no severe casualties were reported among Chadian forces. A senior army official appeared in a video broadcast from the palace, reassuring the public that the situation was under control.

The official’s remarks were followed by another video showing the bodies of the attackers, found near the palace after the engagement.

The attack came just under two weeks after Chad’s controversial general election. The government had hailed the election as a significant step toward ending military rule in Chad. Still, opposition groups, particularly the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF), accused the administration of electoral manipulation.

Recall that Chad had also recently ended its defence and security agreements with former colonial power France, which marks a shift in the region’s geopolitical dynamics. The departure of French military personnel, who had been stationed in Chad for years, has further heightened tensions.

Earlier in the day, several hours before the palace attack, the National Security Agency (ANSE) headquarters in N’Djamena was targeted in a deadly assault. The government attributed the violence to the opposition PSF, which has been a vocal critic of the current regime. The PSF leader, Yaya Dillo, denied involvement, calling the allegations a “lie.”

The unrest comes on the heels of the announcement that Chad will hold presidential elections on May 6, 2025, which has stirred additional concerns about the country’s political future. Witnesses reported hearing intense gunfire near PSF offices in the city, with military vehicles observed heading to the scene.

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