A recent assault on a Chadian military base has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 soldiers, according to the presidency.
President Mahamat Déby has ordered a counter-operation to locate those responsible for the attack, which occurred on an island named Barkaram in a marshy region that has suffered from the shrinkage of Lake Chad.
While the presidency did not name any suspects, the area is near the borders of Nigeria and Niger, where Islamist militants are active. This attack is one of the deadliest against Chadian forces since 2020, when a similar raid led to around 100 military casualties, prompting a government crackdown on militants.
Local sources have indicated that Boko Haram, an Islamist group operating from Nigeria, may be behind the assault. At the time of the attack, there were reportedly around 200 soldiers stationed at the base.
President Déby, a trained soldier and the son of the former president who was killed in battle, visited the attack site to assess the situation, honor the fallen soldiers, and boost the morale of the remaining troops.
The Lake Chad basin, bordered by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria, is part of a Multinational Joint Task Force aimed at combating armed groups. However, the International Crisis Group warns that Islamists often regroup when military forces withdraw, highlighting the need for better funding and strategic planning.
Chad remains a stable partner for the West amidst regional turmoil, while also strengthening ties with Russia, which poses challenges for France and the U.S. The country has become a key route for arms into Sudan and is hosting numerous refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war.
