N’Djamena, Chad-Rebels trying to overthrow Chad’s new caretaker government claimed to have shot down a military helicopter on Thursday, and the junta of power after at least six people were killed in a fierce demonstration earlier this week. Warned opponents not to renew their protests.
The Chad government said rebels accused of killing President Idriss Dévi Itono last week have withdrawn across the border to neighboring Niger. However, in a statement released Thursday, rebel groups claimed to control the town of Nokou in Chad, more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of the capital.
It was not immediately possible to independently verify the claims made by the armed groups known as the National Front for Chad’s Change and Concord. The fighter threatened to attack the capital N’Djamena to overthrow a new government led by the murdered president’s son, Mahamat Idris Debbie.
Chad’s political opposition also condemned the formation of a caretaker government led by 37-year-old Devi, saying that the caretaker government of the private sector should have been led by the president of parliament instead.
On Tuesday, a week after the president’s shocking murder was announced, protesters went to the streets in some parts of the capital. Demonstrators blocked the road, burned tires, and urged a swift crackdown from security forces. The government said Wednesday that opposition activists had killed nine people, while six people, including retired police officers, were killed in the mayhem.
Despite threats from rebels to seize N’Djamena, Thursday’s militants still appeared to be far from the capital. A statement released by rebel spokesman Kingabe Ogouzeimi de Tapol criticized the Chad National Army for launching a series of airstrikes, saying it “has no courage to fight on the ground.”
“Aircraft flying in our position are treated as hostile to the people of Chad and are shot down without warning,” said a statement of rebels claiming to have shot down a helicopter. .. The statement also accused the military of hiring Sudanese mercenaries.
Recently, there was no immediate reaction from the army, which, alongside the police, deployed heavily armed turbaned soldiers on the streets of the capital.
General Azem Belmandore Agna, a military spokesman, said rebel leaders were being sought for war crimes in neighboring Libya, with Islamic extremist armed groups operating in eastern Niger and danger. He accused the rebels of forming an alliance.
Late Wednesday, the general called on opposition leaders to turn their supporters back in the aftermath of the fierce clash on Tuesday.
“This so-called peaceful demonstration, paradoxically, resulted in the deliberate destruction of 15 police cars and two (gas station) stations belonging to the Total Company,” the statement said. “In addition, there was a deliberate assault on law enforcement officers during work.”
On Thursday, a city of one million people calmed down, and many boulevards still have signs depicting the image of the murdered president. However, an opposition coalition group known as FONAC said it would maintain resistance to the new government led by Devi’s son.
“FONAC is calling on all Chad people across the country to mobilize for coups, injustices, and to make Chad a monarchy,” he said.
Crysta Larson