Chad Opposition Leader Yaya Dillo Killed In Shootout With Security Forces

Yaya Dillo, the leader of the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF) and former presidential candidate, was killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in the capital N’Djamena on Wednesday.

Chad’s Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah said that Dillo died “where he had retreated, at the headquarters of his party. He didn’t want to surrender and fired on law enforcement.”

State prosecutor Oumar Mahamat Kedelaye had earlier referred to “several dead, including Yaya Dillo” during a security forces operation, which followed an attack late Tuesday on the country’s internal security agency building in which several people were reported killed.

The government led by Mahamat Déby, who took power in a military coup on 20 April 2021, following the death of his father President Idriss Déby, accused Dillo and the PSF of masterminding the attack. Dillo, however, denied this, saying the government was trying to intimidate him and stop him from contesting the elections scheduled for May 6 this year.

On Wednesday, Security forces surrounded the PSF headquarters and Dillo and several other party workers were killed in the ensuing firefight. Internet services in N’Djamena were cut off for most of Wednesday and Thursday, Yaya Dillo Djerou, 49, was a cousin of President Mahamat Deby, and both were supposed to contest the May election, which was announced on Tuesday. Deby had pledged to hold elections in 18 months after assuming power, but had extended his rule by another two years subsequently. In 2021, Dillo had accused Deby’s Presidential guard of having killed several of family members including his wife.

There have been eight military coups in West and Central Africa since 2020.

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