Chad’s military claimed that it has killed some 300 rebels advancing on the capital, N’Djamena, as the government on Monday deployed tanks and other armed vehicles in the city’s streets. The death toll given on state television and radio by army spokesman
Azim Bermandoa Agouna came a day after the military declared that a rebel column had been “decimated” by soldiers. It was not immediately possible to independently confirm the military’s claims given the remote location where the fighting took place.
Confusion and fear mounted in the capital as rumours swirled on social media about whether the Chadian rebels still posed a threat after the weekend clashes.
“Five days ago, the government was talking about terrorists in the Faya area, but today we are told that the rebels are in the Mao area,” said high school teacher Jean Djimasde, suggesting that the rebels appear to have moved closer to the capital. “We don’t know exactly what is going on.”
The Government called for calm as residents of the capital lined up to purchase fuel and stocked up on food at markets.