On Friday, the central office of Chad’s primary opposition party to the ruling junta underwent demolition following the leader’s demise during a military assault on the premises, according to observations made by journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Yaya Dillo Djerou, a prominent adversary and cousin of Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who assumed the role of transitional president under the junta in 2021, lost his life on Wednesday during a confrontation with troops surrounding the Socialist Party Without Borders offices in the capital city of N’Djamena. His party asserts that this incident constitutes an “assassination.”
Prior to his death, the 49-year-old Dillo had informed media that there were attempts to “physically eliminate” him ahead of the May 6 presidential election, which aimed to restore constitutional governance in the central African nation.
On Friday afternoon, journalists witnessed the demolition of the three-story party building by a substantial excavator. An extensive army security perimeter prevented people from approaching, and armored vehicles were visibly positioned around the area.
The government had accused Dillo of leading an attack against the offices of Chad’s internal security agency on the night preceding his death. Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah asserted that Dillo had “himself fired on the security forces,” stating that four soldiers and three party militants, characterized as “assailants,” including Dillo, lost their lives in the clashes that transpired on Wednesday.
