Chadian police fireplace tear gasoline to disperse anti-French protest

The protest was referred to as by Chadian civil society coalition Wakit Tamma to denounce France’s backing of the Transitional Army Council that seized energy following the battlefield death of President Idriss Deby in April 2021, a spokesman mentioned.

Protesters vandalised a number of petrol stations in N’djamena operated by French oil main TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA). Some torched French flags, whereas a Russian flag was hoisted on a mast in central N’djamena, based on a Reuters reporter.

As France’s affect wanes in its former colonies, latest protests in international locations resembling Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have seen requires elevated navy ties with Russia as a substitute of France.

Chad is seen as a robust ally of the west within the struggle in opposition to Islamist militants within the area. A number of Western international locations, together with France, preserve troops at bases within the nation.

Chad’s capital is the central command hub for France’s counter-terrorism operation for the West Africa area. Round French 1,000 troops are based mostly there.

The French embassy in N’djamena was not instantly out there to touch upon the protest.

Final week, the embassy denied a rumor that France was planning to put in new French navy bases in Chad, calling it an try at misinformation.