At least 40 soldiers from Chad have lost their lives following an attack on their military base on Sunday evening, according to a statement from the presidency.
President Mahamat Déby has initiated a counter-operation aimed at capturing those responsible for the assault.
The attack occurred on Barkaram Island, located in a marshy region that has seen significant changes due to the shrinking of Lake Chad over the years.
While the presidency did not name any suspects, the area is near border regions with Nigeria and Niger, which are known hotspots for Islamist militant activity.
Recent UN statistics indicate that over 220,000 individuals have been displaced due to ongoing violence and insecurity from armed groups in the region.
This incident marks one of the most severe losses for Chadian forces since 2020, when nearly 100 soldiers were killed in a similar raid, prompting a military operation against Islamist militants at that time.
Local residents have suggested that Boko Haram, the Islamist group based in Nigeria, may be behind the recent attack.
They report that around 200 soldiers were stationed at the garrison during the assault, and the attackers had time to steal ammunition and equipment before fleeing.
This event poses a significant challenge for President Déby, who is not only a trained military leader but also the son of the former president, who was killed in combat against rebels three years ago.
In response to the incident, the Chadian presidency portrayed Déby as an engaged leader, stating that he visited the attack site on Monday to assess the situation, honor the fallen soldiers, support the wounded, and boost the morale of the troops.
The Lake Chad basin, which borders Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, is the focus of a Multinational Joint Task Force aiming to eradicate armed groups in the area.
However, the International Crisis Group warns that Islamist groups tend to regroup when military forces withdraw, highlighting the need for improved funding and strategic planning.
In recent years, the region has seen multiple coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, with military leaders citing the inability of civilian governments to address the Islamist threat as a primary justification for their actions.
Analysts note that despite regional turmoil, Chad maintains a stable partnership with Western nations while also strengthening ties with Russia, which creates tension with France and the United States.
Additionally, Chad has become a critical transit point for arms heading to Sudan, although it denies these claims, and is hosting numerous refugees fleeing Sudan’s civil war in camps near its eastern border.
