The Aftermath of Chad’s Presidential Palace Assault: Capital’s Path to Peace
On the evening of January 8, 2025, an armed group attacked the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad. The assailants, numbering 24 and reportedly under the influence of alcohol and drugs, were armed with knives and machetes.
They arrived in vehicles that malfunctioned at the palace entrance. In the ensuing confrontation, 18 attackers were killed, six were detained, and one presidential guard lost his life, with three others injured.
The situation was swiftly brought under control by security forces, and by the following morning, the capital remained calm, with daily activities resuming as normal.
Government spokesperson Abderaman Koulamallah described the assailants as a disorganized group from a specific neighborhood in N’Djamena, dismissing the incident as a non-terrorist act.
This attack occurred shortly after a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who had already departed the palace prior to the incident.
The Chadian government has been addressing various security challenges, including recent political instability following the transition of power to President Mahamat Idriss Deby in 2021.