The Chadian government has declared three days of national mourning following the killing of at least 40 soldiers in a deadly attack in Lac province. The mourning period will begin at midnight on Tuesday and continue through Friday, during which flags will be flown at half-mast and all public celebrations will be suspended, according to an official government decree. Only religious music and prayers will be broadcast on media outlets and allowed in places of worship.
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, targeted a Defense and Security Forces base in Barkaram, an island in Chad’s Lake Chad region. The assailants, who remain unidentified, launched a surprise assault on the military post, resulting in heavy casualties.
President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. “We will pursue them wherever they hide. In a few days, they will feel the might of the Chadian National Army,” Deby said, pledging swift military retaliation.
Chad continues to face insurgent threats in the Lake Chad area, where government forces frequently clash with militant groups, including Boko Haram. The recent attack marks one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent months.
