Chadian rebels gained an easy entry into the capital, N’Djamena, on Saturday, in a fight to end President Idriss Deby’s seventeen year rule.
This is the biggest offensive since rebel forces begun their advance towards N’Djamena from the eastern part of the country early this week. The rebels who moved in a column of three hundred pickup trucks mounted with machine guns had met little resistance until friday, when they were bombarded on the ground by Chadian army forces at only fifty kilometres away from the capital.
Chadian rebels gained an easy entry into the capital, N’Djamena, on Saturday, in a fight to end President Idriss Deby’s seventeen year rule.
This is the biggest offensive since rebel forces begun their advance towards N’Djamena from the eastern part of the country early this week. The rebels who moved in a column of three hundred pickup trucks mounted with machine guns had met little resistance until friday, when they were bombarded on the ground by Chadian army forces at only fifty kilometres away from the capital.
Reports from diplomatic sources say that sounds of gunfire and heavy artillery attacks near the presidential palace in the capital, N’Djamena, could be heard. The rebels it seems are in a clear advance towards their goal.
Amid the confusion and apparent intense fighting around the presidential palace for control, bbc news reported earlier that a statement from the country’s foreign minister confirmed President Idriss Deby was inside the palace and the situation in the city was under control. Another earlier statement from the rebel spokesman said that the capital was almost under their control. Other sources report no clear advantage on either side, whilst a chadian opposition website claims civilians are fleeing the capital southwards towards the Cameroonian border.
Yesterday a military source told Radio France International that the rebels had been disbanded and that the regular army force had won the battle. Timan Erdimi, one of the rebel heads, contrary to the statement made by army forces said his troops were gaining ground against the government forces and were even “closely following them into N’Djamena”.
Embassies who had started evacuation excercises for their citizens halted the operation when the rebels entered into the city. French authorities, after sending about 150 troops to help with the evacuation have advised their citizens to stay indoors until further notice.
The African Union warned of Chad’s exclusion from the union should the rebels take over power and asked for an immediate end to the attacks that result in bloodshed. Expressing concern, the new Chairman of the AU commission Jean Ping said he was deeply concerned with the situation.
