N’DJAMENA, Chad – Chadian opposition politician Yaya Dillo was killed during a violent confrontation with security forces, as announced by State Prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye during a press conference.
Dillo, who was a prominent figure expected to contest in the upcoming presidential elections slated for May, became one of the numerous casualties in a series of clashes that have rocked the nation.
The fatal exchange of gunfire occurred on Wednesday, February 28, 2023, close to the National Security Agency building in N’Djamena, marking a significant escalation in the pre-election violence.
This incident followed earlier clashes that claimed several lives, underscoring the volatile political climate in Chad.
Chad, a crucial ally of the United States, is strategically positioned in a region beset by insurgencies, coups, and conflicts. Its stability is considered vital for regional security.
However, the recent unrest highlights the challenges facing the country as it approaches a critical election that promises a return to constitutional democracy after a three-year hiatus dominated by military rule.
Despite the tense atmosphere, life in the capital showed signs of normalcy on Thursday, with residents returning to their daily routines.
Nevertheless, the aftermath of the violence was palpable, especially with internet access remaining blocked following the government’s crackdown on the preceding day.
The headquarters of the Socialist Party Without Borders, led by the late Dillo, was sealed off by security forces in a move that further heightened tensions.
The government and the opposition party have provided conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the deadly confrontations.
According to official statements, the security forces were responding to an attack by party representatives, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
In a separate incident, the government accused Ahmed Torabi, a member of Dillo’s party, of attempting to assassinate the president of the supreme court, Samir Adam Annour. Torabi was subsequently arrested.
Contrastingly, the general secretary of the opposition party painted a different picture. He claimed that the deaths near the security agency were the result of soldiers firing on party members who had gathered to inquire about the whereabouts of Torabi’s body.
According to him, Torabi had been killed two days prior, and when his relatives and party members approached the agency to recover his body, they were met with lethal force, leading to several casualties.
