Tensions escalate as heavy security surrounds opposition HQ in Chad

A volatile atmosphere enveloped the capital of Chad as roadblocks and heightened security measures were implemented around the headquarters of the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) on Thursday. The stringent measures came in the wake of gunfire near the headquarters, following a fatal assault on the nation’s security agency.

Soldiers were visibly deployed, encircling the PSF headquarters, as the junta-led government pointed accusatory fingers at the opposition party for orchestrating a deadly attack on the internal security agency between Tuesday and Wednesday night.

In the aftermath of the assault on the security agency, automatic gunfire erupted in proximity to the PSF headquarters on the subsequent day. Notably led by a formidable opponent of Chad’s transitional president, the party faced increased scrutiny and security concerns.

Access to the presidential palace was restricted on Thursday, and schools in the central region of N’Djamena remained shuttered, heightening the sense of tension and uncertainty. The already uneasy situation was exacerbated by disruptions in the telephone network since Wednesday, coupled with the suspension of mobile internet access, as reported by journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The head of the PSF, Yaya Dillo, who happens to be a cousin of the transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, vehemently denied any involvement in the security agency attack. Speaking to AFP, Dillo dismissed the accusations as baseless lies, asserting that the claims were politically motivated. “I wasn’t present,” he insisted.

The conflict escalated further as the government accused a PSF member of attempting to assassinate the president of the supreme court, leading to the arrest of the party member. Dillo condemned these allegations as “staged” and maintained the party’s innocence.

Amid the rising tensions, Chad, also, announced a presidential election scheduled for May 6, with both President Deby Itno and Yaya Dillo expressing intentions to contest. Deby Itno, who assumed the transitional presidency after the demise of his father in 2021, initially pledged to hand power back to civilians and conduct elections within 18 months.

The transition period, however , was subsequently extended by an additional two years, contributing to the growing political turmoil in the nation. The situation remains fluid, with citizens anxiously watching as political tensions escalate.