What happened last night in the Chadian capital? “ A series of heavy shots rang out near the presidency, reports the site TchadVision. Armed men attempted to infiltrate the presidential complex. The reaction of the security forces was immediate and effective. Several attackers were shot dead, while others were captured. » There would be a total of 19 dead: 18 attackers and a presidential guard.
A succinct report, almost a true copy of the official declarations of the Chadian authorities.
A little later in the evening, reports Young Africa« the Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and government spokesperson assured that the situation was “under control” and referred to “a small incident”. In a video posted on social networks and filmed in the presidential compound, Abderaman Koulamallah affirmed, pistol in his belt, that there was “no fear and nothing serious”. »
Then questioned by national television, the same Abderaman Koulamallah considered that the attack was “not probably not a terrorist “, while rumors spoke of possible action by Boko Haram jihadists, and that this attack had been carried out by a ” collection of nickel-plated feet “, drug addicts and alcoholics coming from a poor neighborhood in the south of the city with ” weapons, cutters and knives. »
Serial questions…
So the press in the sub-region is asking questions this morning.
« How were these individuals able to penetrate a perimeter that was supposed to be highly secure? What was their exact number? » asks of WalfQuotidien in Senegal.
Lots of questions also for You cut it in Burkina Faso: “ What happened as night fell on Ndjamena? An attack carried out by the Boko-Haram nebula which rules the roost in neighboring Nigeria? An attack by these rebel groups who constantly prowl the borders of Chad? An attempt at destabilization “eradicated” as the government spokesperson said? (…) All hypotheses are in the balance, even if those of an attempted coup d’état, an attack by rebels or terrorists, have been, for the moment, swept aside by the government spokesperson. »
-Ledjely in Guinea echoes the question: “ who are the members of this commando who had the audacity to attack the most protected site in Chad? What were their objectives? Above all, how can we explain the ease with which they reached the presidency? »
In any case, continue Ledjely« although very quickly defeated, these attackers nevertheless highlighted a worrying security failure on the part of Chad. That the commando managed to approach the threat so close to the presidency is not normal. This is indicative of a major intelligence problem. A problem which could well be linked, says the Guinean siteto the vast change that the Chadian president made last October in the hierarchy of the various army and security bodies. A sweep whose scale surprised more than one as it was unprecedented. »
Choguel Maïga: “ too bulky… »
Also read, this time in The World Africathis article on the career of Choguel Maïga, the former Malian Prime Minister, dismissed last November. The World Africa details the sometimes tortuous journey of this “ political figure who has served almost all powers for more than twenty years and who is now accused by the junta of financial embezzlement. (…) Choguel Maïga was the main civilian figure of the power that the military established but his freedom of tone ended up making him too cumbersome. »
What’s more, continues Le Monde Afrique, “since his dismissal, the voluble Maïga has not chosen discretion, multiplying consultations, some of which filmed at his home, in which he blows hot and cold on his political intentions and his positioning vis-à-vis -vis the military regime. »
Result, notes an opponent quoted by the newspaper: “ What will happen to Choguel is what happened to other politicians whom the authorities considered too troublesome: the arrest warrant. It will just be one more political trial, judged by a Supreme Court in the pay of those in power. »
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