Sustained gunfire erupted near the presidency in N'Djamena, Chad's capital, on Wednesday evening, causing alarm and prompting military vehicles to rush toward the presidential headquarters. 

According to local residents and media reports, the incident included an attack on the interior of the presidential compound, although details remain scarce.

"I am stuck at Place de Nation in front of the presidency because I hear intense gunfire and military vehicles coming from all directions," resident Abbas Mahamout Seid told Reuters. Roads leading to the presidency were blocked, and tanks were seen patrolling the streets, AFP reported.

The government has since downplayed the incident. Chad's Infrastructure Minister Aziz Mahamat Saleh posted on Facebook, stating, "Nothing serious, no panic, the situation is under control," without elaborating further.

Contentious election

The gunfire comes less than two weeks after a contested general election, which the government hailed as a step toward ending military rule. However, the election faced low turnout and opposition allegations of fraud.

It also unfolded amid ongoing challenges, including recurring attacks by the jihadist group Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region and Chad's involvement in the neighboring Sudan conflict.

The country has recently taken steps to distance itself from its former colonial power, France. In November, Chad ended its military and security agreements with Paris, initiating the withdrawal of around 1,000 French military personnel.

While authorities have declared the situation under control, the circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear.

End of an era

A French colony until its independence in 1960, Chad had maintained close ties with Paris, including the presence of French troops since the 1980s.

N'Djamena served as the headquarters for France's "anti-terrorism" operations in the Sahel, a mission that officially ended in 2022 after criticism of its effectiveness in combating jihadist insurgencies.

In November, Chad ended its defense cooperation agreement with France, following the example of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which severed ties with Paris after coups replaced their governments.