Armed gunmen opened fire near the presidential residence in the Chadian capital N'Djamena and attacked the inside of the complex. At least 19 people are known to have died due to the attack, but the country's Infrastructure Minister Aziz Mahamat Saleh assures that the situation is "

The Chadian government said militants tried to storm the presidential complex in N'Djamena. A battle with government forces ensued, resulting in the death of 18 attackers and one security officer..

“The militants have 18 dead and six wounded, and we have one dead and three wounded, one of them seriously,” said government spokesman and Foreign Minister Abderaman Kulamallah.

All the roads leading to the president's residence, reporters saw tanks on the street. Civilians fled the city center in cars and motorcycles, and armed police were seen in several areas.

Security sources say members of the jihadist group Boko Haram were trying to take over the complex.. The army is fighting them in the western Lake Chad region, bordering Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger.

It is noteworthy that several hours before the outbreak of hostilities, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno and other senior officials.

The shooting in N'Djamena comes less than two weeks after Chad held general elections that the government called an important step towards ending rule by a military junta.. The elections were marred by low turnout and opposition accusations of fraud..

Debi Itno came to power after the death of his father Debi Idris, who ruled with an iron fist for three decades..

The country's opposition has called his government authoritarian and repressive.. The African country is rich in oil but ranks fourth from bottom on the UN Human Development Index.

To strengthen his power, Deby Itno reshuffled the army. On the diplomatic front, he sought new strategic partnerships, including with Russia and Hungary.

At the same time, Chad tore up defense and security agreements with Paris, calling them “outdated”.

There are about a thousand French troops in the country, now they are going to be withdrawn.

Let's remember that analysts at the Institute for the Study of War argued last year that Chad could become Russia's next target.. Putin discussed the fight against terrorism in the country with Debi Idris.

Mercenaries of the Russian PMC " According to the mercenaries, the border between African countries has been closed for more than 10 years, but thanks to the Wagnerites it is already open.