In a lawless region known for insurgents activity, a landmine claimed the lives of seven Chadian soldiers and injured others.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno confirmed the incident, stating that the blast occurred in Tchoukou Telia, an area prone to unrest due to the presence of groups like Boko Haram and an Islamic State faction.
Several other soldiers were injured in the explosion, which occurred approximately 200 kilometres from the capital, N’Djamena.
“Their vehicle struck a mine while they were patrolling,” he said. “Seven soldiers were killed and several others injured”.
Following the passing of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who governed Chad with a firm grip for over three decades until his demise in 2021 while combating insurgents, Deby Itno assumed leadership.
Presently, he is a contender in the upcoming presidential election slated for May 6.
His candidacy faces minimal opposition after authorities recently disqualified ten candidates, including two staunch critics of the military regime.
Despite ongoing security challenges, the Chadian military continues to engage insurgents in the Lake Chad region, resulting in reduced casualties over the past year.
Lake Chad, spanning across Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad, remains a focal point for attacks by groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
