Battle of N'Djamena (2006)

Battle of N'Djamena
	Part of War in Chad (2005–2010)
Date	13 April 2006
Location	N'Djamena, Chad
Result	Chadian military victory
Belligerents
United Front for Democratic Change	Military of Chad
Commanders and leaders
Mohammed Nour Abdelkerim; Abdelwahid Aboud Mackaye	Idriss Déby
Casualties and losses
370 killed; 271 captured	30 killed
	Unknown number of civilians killed, 387 injured on both sides

The Battle of N'Djamena took place between the forces of the

Idriss Déby Itno

from their bases an estimated thousand miles east.

The battle occurred just months after serious Chad-Sudan tensions ended with the signing of the

Sudanese refugees from the Darfur region.^[2] The government of Sudan has been documented by the United Nations to have engaged in mass murder of approximately 100,000 non-Arab civilians in Darfur in the period 2003–2006.^[3]

The battle

The rebels attempted to seize the

civilians, were killed in the fighting. 271 rebels were captured and paraded through the Place d'Independance

the next day.

Reactions

Chad

President Déby blamed the attack on the government of neighboring Sudan, claiming that many of the attackers were either Sudanese backed by their government or residents of Chad conscripted by the Sudanese. Subsequently, he threatened to expel 200,000 Sudanese refugees sheltering in the east of the country after repeating accusations that Sudan supports rebels who launched a new offensive to oust him. Déby backed away from this threat on 17 April 2006.^[4]

Déby repeatedly has accused Sudan of hiring mercenaries to overthrow his government. Sudan has denied the accusation, and in turn has accused Chad of supporting fighters in its volatile Darfur region, where Arab militias and African rebels have fought for nearly three years.

Déby claimed that the rebel attack was designed to encourage a constitutional vacuum leading to

May 3 presidential election, an election in which President Déby, who had been Chad's leader for sixteen years, successfully ran for a third term.^[5]

Déby dismissed the rebels as "petty mercenaries" and described the attack as "amateurish", saying that he was "not going anywhere". According to Déby, on the morning of the rebel attack, he "knew they were coming", and he and his wife Hinda were "listening to the cannon fire" while "[taking] our breakfast of strong coffee and warm croissant."[6]

Other

The actions of the rebel forces were condemned by the United Nations Security Council. Secretary General Kofi Annan was quoted as saying he was "greatly troubled by the worsening security situation in Chad".^[7]

The Central African Republic closed off its border with Sudan on 14 April saying that the rebels had crossed into its territory on their way to N'Djamena.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Chad breaks off relations with Sudan, says uprising crushed". Archived from the original on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
^ England, Andrew (15 April 2006). "Chad severs ties with Sudan". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2006.
^ Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations Secretary-General, International Commission of Inquiry, 18 September 2004
^ "Chad reassures UN, no expulsion of Darfur refugees". Sudan Tribune. 17 April 2006. Archived from the original on 21 November 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2006.
^ Flynn, Daniel (18 April 2006). "Chad's leader accuses Sudan of waging war". The Scotsman.
^ Emily Wax, "New First Lady Captivates Chad", The Washington Post, 2 May 2006, page A17.
^ Various writers (14 April 2006). "UN condemns rebel attack in Chad". The Age.
^ Lacey, Marc (15 April 2006). "After Battle in Capital, Chad Threatens to Expel Sudanese". The New York Times.

External links

12°06′59″N 15°04′20″E / 12.1164°N 15.0722°E / 12.1164; 15.0722

[turkishpress.com-1] "Chad breaks off relations with Sudan, says uprising crushed". Archived from the original on 12 September 2006. Retrieved 10 May 2009.

[2] England, Andrew (15 April 2006). "Chad severs ties with Sudan". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2006.

[3] Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur to the United Nations Secretary-General, International Commission of Inquiry, 18 September 2004

[4] "Chad reassures UN, no expulsion of Darfur refugees". Sudan Tribune. 17 April 2006. Archived from the original on 21 November 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2006.

[5] Flynn, Daniel (18 April 2006). "Chad's leader accuses Sudan of waging war". The Scotsman.

[6] Emily Wax, "New First Lady Captivates Chad", The Washington Post, 2 May 2006, page A17.

[7] Various writers (14 April 2006). "UN condemns rebel attack in Chad". The Age.

[8] Lacey, Marc (15 April 2006). "After Battle in Capital, Chad Threatens to Expel Sudanese". The New York Times.

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v t e Chadian Civil War (2005–2010)
Rebel groups	Union of Forces for Democracy and Development Union of Forces for Democracy and Development–Fundamental United Front for Democratic Change Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy Rally for Democracy and Liberty Rally of Democratic Forces National Movement for Reform and Development Justice and Equality Movement Janjaweed
History and events	Darfur conflict Second Battle of Adré Raid on Borota Tripoli Agreement Raid on Amdjereme Raid on Dalola 2006 Chadian presidential election Battle of N'Djamena (2006) 2006 Chadian coup d'état attempt Mediation of the Chadian Civil War (2005–10) Dakar Accord Battle of N'Djamena (2008)

v t e N'Djamena
Schools	Lycée Montaigne de N'Djamena American International School of N'Djamena George Washington International Academy N'Djamena English International School Wellsprings Academy Les Etoiles Brillantes
Universities	University of N'Djamena
Transport	N'Djamena International Airport
Landmarks	Chad National Museum Kempinski Hotel N'Djamena N'Djamena Grand Mosque
Culture	Gazelle FC Geyser Football Club
History	Battle of N'Djamena (1979) Battle of N'Djamena (1980) Battle of N'Djamena (2006) Battle of N'Djamena (2008) Air West Flight 612