Chad’s President, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has initiated a military operation, “Haskanite,” to eliminate Boko Haram fighters responsible for a recent attack that killed over 40 Chadian soldiers near Lake Chad.
The assault took place Sunday night in Ngouboua, a village on the Lake Chad island of Bakaram close to the Nigerian border, where Boko Haram militants overran the garrison, destroying vehicles and structures and capturing weapons. Several dozen government soldiers were injured, and numerous civilians were reported dead or wounded.
President Deby, who serves as Chad’s military commander-in-chief, attended the fallen soldiers’ burial on Monday. He subsequently ordered three days of national mourning with flags at half-mast and mandated that all radio and television stations in Chad play religious music only from October 28 onward.
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According to Chad’s state TV, Haskanite, named after a resilient desert plant, symbolizes the strength of Chadian forces as they engage in the counter-terrorism operation. The government reports that the troops are well-prepared and equipped to handle the mission.
Chad has requested the support of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a coalition with troops from Cameroon, Niger, and Nigeria, in countering Boko Haram’s activities in the Lake Chad Basin, where the group has recently intensified attacks for supplies and weaponry.
Regional experts argue that poverty and hardship are driving militants to regroup, complicating efforts for Chad alone to eliminate the threat. Collaboration between the four Lake Chad nations is essential to curtail Boko Haram’s influence and operations in this expansive region.
The conflict has devastated the region since 2009, leading to over 40,000 deaths and displacing millions across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, according to United Nations reports.
