Six high-ranking officers and soldiers of Chad’s armed forces were killed, with several others wounded, in a deadly assault by Boko Haram insurgents.
The attack on the Chadian troops, described as intense and violent, highlights the ongoing risks faced by the region’s security forces.
According to counter-insurgency expert and security analyst Zagazola Makama, the ambush unfolded on Friday, November 8, just after President Mahamat Idriss Déby departed the area for the capital, Ndjamena.
The fallen officers include prominent military leaders: General Youssouf Abdoulaye Kari, General Adoum Issa, Colonel Lony Allatchi, Lieutenant Colonel Gorou Wardougou, Adam Nassour Mahamat, and Idrissa Malloum.
Among those wounded in the attack were General François Tatiko, General Moubarack Formalick, Bokhit Bachar, Lieutenant Jean Pierre Medar, and Ibrahim Ali.
General Youssouf Abdoulaye Kari, known for his dedication and leadership, was also a former member of Chad’s peacekeeping forces in Mali, and his loss leaves a profound gap in the Chadian military hierarchy.
Chadian Army spokesperson, General Issakha Acheikh, confirmed the ambush but declined to provide further details.
“The General Staff of the Armed Forces informs both national and international communities that, following a strategic reorganization of Defense and Security Forces by the President of the Republic, Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces, Operation Haskanite commenced to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists from Lake Chad. The first confrontation occurred today, Saturday, November 9, 2024.”
He added that after a few hours of combat, numerous terrorist fighters were neutralized, and operations are ongoing. “A complete report will be provided in due course,” Acheikh stated.