Incensed demonstrators in Chad attempted to breach a French military base in response to the fatal shooting of a Chadian soldier.
The soldier had reportedly visited the Faya-Largeau base in the northern region of the country on Tuesday, seeking medical treatment.
French troops are stationed there as part of their involvement in anti-terror operations in the area.
According to statements from Chadian and French authorities, the soldier then assaulted a nurse with a scalpel.
“The Chadian soldier, who was not in a normal state, went to the French army base seeking medical attention, seized a scalpel, and attacked a French military nurse,” explained General Ali Maide Kebir, the region’s governor, to the AFP news agency.
“In response, the nurse used his firearm and fatally shot the soldier.”
A senior officer from the French forces stated that the military nurse acted in self-defense, adding, “We don’t yet know the motives behind the attack. The nurse sustained three scalpel injuries to the throat, head, and neck, but his condition has stabilized.”
The incident has led to joint investigations by both the Chadian and French militaries. Nonetheless, the news has deeply unsettled the local community, sparking protests outside the military base.
Chadian soldiers guarding the base successfully prevented the demonstrators from gaining access.