Suspected jihadist attack leaves at least 26 soldiers dead in Lake Chad region

At least 26 Chadian soldiers were killed and several wounded on Wednesday (4 August) in a suspected jihadist attack in the Lake Chad region, on the island of Tchoukou Telia, near the border with Cameroon. This region is known as a den for jihadists, in particular the terrorist group Boko Haram, which has conducted numerous attacks and has been very active there since 2016. Local authorities have blamed Boko Haram for the attack.

“26 elements of the Chadian army fell on the field of honour, 14 others were wounded, eight seriously. Several terrorists have been neutralised and the search continues,” Army spokesman General Azem Bermandoa Agouna told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday. A first assessment given by the authorities reported 24 soldiers killed.

The death of the soldiers “reminds us of the security challenges that we are still facing in part of our borders. The heavy price we are paying in this asymmetric war is bitter, but it will not be in vain. We will make the terrorist hydra capitulate,” reacted Mahamat Idriss Déby, president of Chad's Transitional Military Council (TMC) since the death of his father, Idriss Déby Itno, in April 2021, who died fighting against rebels.

The jihadist organisations, Boko Haram and its rival breakaway faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have increased their attacks at the borders between Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria in the past months, taking advantage of their knowledge of the region's marshlands.

Jihadists have also increased deadly attacks against security forces and civilians in the far north of Cameroon these past years.

At the end of July, Boko Haram launched several attacks in the region. On 24 July, at least six Cameroonian soldiers were killed in Sagmé, near the Nigerian border. Three days later, five soldiers and a civilian were killed in the same region of the far north.

 

source: commonspace.eu with Le Monde (Paris) and agencies.
photo: Boko Haram flag across from Bosso border post in Nigeria, 2014; EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Putin makes first visit to Kursk since Russia recaptured region

Putin makes first visit to Kursk since Russia recaptured region

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk for the first time since Moscow claimed to have completely recaptured the region following a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last year, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday. Putin met with municipal leaders in the city of Kurchatov and visited the Kursk nuclear power plant, which is currently under construction, the Kremlin said, according to TASS.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Putin makes first visit to Kursk since Russia recaptured region

Putin makes first visit to Kursk since Russia recaptured region

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk for the first time since Moscow claimed to have completely recaptured the region following a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces last year, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday. Putin met with municipal leaders in the city of Kurchatov and visited the Kursk nuclear power plant, which is currently under construction, the Kremlin said, according to TASS.