February 28, 2024, 1:07 p.m. GMT
Updated 55 minutes ago
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The upcoming elections will mark the end of the interim government
Heavy gunfire can be heard in the Chadian capital N'Djamena following a deadly attack on the headquarters of the National Security Agency (ANSE).
The government said several people were killed in Wednesday's attack, blaming the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF).
Its leader, Yaya Dillo, told AFP the claim was a “lie”.
The unrest comes a day after the announcement that Chad would hold presidential elections on May 6.
Residents of N'Djamena reported hearing heavy gunfire near the PSF headquarters on Wednesday and said they saw several military vehicles heading there.
A witness told Portal that the PSF buildings had been cordoned off.
Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said the earlier attack on the ANSE buildings was led by Mr Dillo, who denied being there. He told AFP the accusation was intended to “scare me so I wouldn't vote.”
One of Mr Dillo's colleagues, the PSF's general secretary, told Portal that contrary to the government's claim that its members had attacked the ANSE building, they themselves were attacked by soldiers as they tried to retrieve the body of their colleague Ahmed Torabi recover.
The PSF official said Mr Torabi was arrested and shot on Tuesday before his body was dumped outside the ANSE buildings.
According to the government, Mr. Torabi had attempted to assassinate the President of the Supreme Court.
Relatives and party members who tried to get to his body were shot at on Wednesday morning, resulting in several deaths, the general secretary said.
Mr Dillo also denied any connection to the attack, which he described as “staged”, according to AFP.
The government said PSF members had been arrested or were wanted and would be prosecuted over the attack on ANSE headquarters.
“Anyone who attempts to disrupt the ongoing democratic process in the country will be prosecuted and brought to justice,” said a government statement quoted by AFP.
It is not clear whether Mr. Dillo was among those arrested, but in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning he said the military had come to meet him at his party headquarters.
In addition to the violence, internet connectivity was disrupted in the country, according to internet regulator Netblocks.
Mr Dillo is a vocal opponent of his cousin, President Mahamat Déby, who came to power in 2021 after his father was killed by rebels after three decades in power.
Mr Déby promised to return the country to civilian rule – but delayed this for more than two years.
The election in May is expected to mark the end of the political transition.
The Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) has named President Déby as its candidate for the upcoming elections, but he has not yet said openly whether he will run.
The former colonial power France has supported Mr Déby since the beginning of the transition, causing a stir both at home and abroad.
France currently has around 1,000 troops stationed in Chad to fight jihadist groups across West Africa.
The opposition said the electoral commission was anything but neutral and feared an extension of the Déby dynasty.