Chad violence condemned as US embassy targeted

There’s been international condemnation of the recent violence in Chad, where at least 50 protesters were killed and 300 others wounded in pro-democracy protests.

The UN, the EU, and the United States have called for all parties to de-escalate, but members of the opposition have vowed to keep protesting.

In an unusual move, the US embassy in Chad not only issued a statement condemning Thursday’s violence but also posted a photo on its social media channels, showing the ambassador kneeling next to bloodied clothes on the street.

This came after people dressed as civilians cleared checkpoints and killed four people outside the embassy gates.

It’s not clear why the US embassy was targeted. A curfew is in place in the capital Ndjamena and three other towns where protests took place.

Opposition members say demonstrations will continue until their demands are met.

They want elections to be held as soon as possible. Interim President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who came into power after his father, Idriss Déby died in April 2021, had promised to hold elections within 18 months. He’s now pushed them back to 2024.

In its statement, the US embassy said it was concerned that the transitional military government had disregarded the African Union’s directive that its members shouldn’t stand in future elections.