United States Orders Its Citizens To Leave Chad

The United States has ordered its citizens to leave Chad as rebels move to the capital, Ndjamena.

The United Kingdom also wants its citizens to leave Chad “due to civil unrest and gun violence.”.

The uprising comes as Chadian election results show President Idriss Deby is on track to win re-election for a sixth term.

According to the US State Department, Non-governmental armed groups from northern Chad have moved south and appear to be heading towards N’Djamena. Due to their growing proximity to N’Djamena, and the possibility of violence in the city, non-essential US government employees have been ordered to leave Chad by commercial aircraft. US citizens in Chad who wished to leave are urged take advantage of commercial flights.

“The government of Chad may impose travel restrictions without notice, which may affect travel plans. The government of Chad may block lines of communication, including telephone services, social media and the Internet,” the American government stated.

The United States government has “an extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to American citizens in Chad, as United States government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside the capital, including within the Lake Chad Basin “.

calls for calm

Chadian Foreign Minister, Amine Abba Sidick “called for calm”. He stated that “the situation is not worrying; the situation is well under control by the Chadian army”.

Deby, who seized power in 1990 at the head of an armed rebellion, is a staunch ally of France and the United States in the fight against Islamist militants in the arid Sahel region.