Chad declares state of emergency after deadly Boko Haram attacks
Chad has declared a 20-day state of emergency in the violence-hit Lake Chad region following a surge in deadly attacks blamed on jihadist group Boko Haram.
The move comes after at least 26 Chadian soldiers, including two senior generals, were killed this week in separate ambushes, prompting nationwide mourning and a renewed military response.
Government spokesperson Gassim Cherif said authorities reviewed the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in the region, highlighting fresh Boko Haram attacks, civilian displacement, and growing threats to lives and property.
The latest violence followed a deadly assault on the Barka Tolorom military base near Lake Chad, where at least 24 soldiers were killed and several others injured, according to military sources.
Officials say the emergency measures are aimed at strengthening security operations and restoring order in the troubled region.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby also thanked neighbouring Nigeria for its support and cooperation in ongoing counterterrorism efforts.
The Lake Chad basin, which borders Chad, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity, with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) using its remote islands as operational bases.
Regional governments continue to battle extremist violence as attacks on military forces and civilians intensify across the area.
