TheNewsGuru

Tag: Chad

  • REVENGE! Chad halts U.S. visa issuance in response to Trump-Era travel ban

    REVENGE! Chad halts U.S. visa issuance in response to Trump-Era travel ban

    In a diplomatic move, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby has announced the suspension of visa issuance to citizens of the United States, citing reciprocity in response to a U.S. travel ban that primarily targets African and other developing nations.

    The announcement, made on Thursday via Facebook, is a direct response to travel restrictions originally introduced under former U.S. President Donald Trump, which placed Chad and several other countries on a restricted travel list.

    “I have instructed the government to act based on the principle of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” President Déby declared. “Chad does not have planes to offer or billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride.”

    Backdrop: Travel Ban Impacting Multiple African Nations

    The U.S. travel ban, which first drew widespread international criticism when implemented in 2020, targets 12 countries, seven of which are in Africa. These include:

    Chad

    Nigeria

    Sudan

    Somalia

    Libya

    Eritrea

    Equatorial Guinea

    The restrictions were justified by the Trump administration as necessary for national security and immigration control, but they have since been described by critics as discriminatory and counterproductive to global cooperation.

    Other nations affected by the broader travel and visa restrictions include Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Yemen, and Haiti.

    Additionally, citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela also face varying levels of visa limitations under U.S. immigration policies.

    AU Reacts, Urges Respectful Engagement

    The African Union (AU) has voiced deep concern over the enduring effects of the U.S. travel ban, warning of long-term damage to diplomatic and economic relations between Africa and the United States.

    In an official statement, the AU urged Washington to reconsider its approach, advocating for greater consultation and mutual respect:

    “We call on the U.S. government to adopt a more consultative and inclusive strategy when it comes to international mobility and migration policies,” the AU stated. “Diplomatic engagement and mutual respect must remain at the heart of foreign relations.”

    Chad Asserts Sovereignty Amid Global Tensions

    President Déby’s decision to enforce reciprocal travel restrictions signals a growing determination among African leaders to stand firm against what they perceive as unilateral and unfair international policies.

    Observers view the move as both symbolic and political, aimed at asserting Chad’s national dignity and resisting what Déby referred to as “global double standards” in migration and diplomatic engagements.

    Though there has been no formal response from the U.S. State Department as of press time, the development marks a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions between Chad and the United States.

  • Presidential palace attack: Chad says military foiled armed assault leaving 19 d3ad

    Presidential palace attack: Chad says military foiled armed assault leaving 19 d3ad

    An attack on Chad’s presidential palace left 18 assailants dead and six in custody, with one soldier killed and three wounded, state media reported Thursday.

    No fewer than 19 people have been killed in Chad where security forces said they had prevented an attempt by armed fighters to storm the presidential complex in the capital N’Djamena.

    At least 18 of a force of 24 armed men were killed in the failed assault on the president’s office on Wednesday evening, the government said, and one member of the security forces also died in the gun battles.

    There were 18 dead and six injured” among the attackers “and we suffered one death and three injured, one of them seriously”, Chad’s foreign minister and government spokesman Abderaman Koulamallah said.

    Hours after the shooting, Koulamallah appeared in a video, surrounded by soldiers and with a gun on his belt, saying, “The situation is completely under control … the destabilisation attempt was put down.”

    The attack coincided with an official visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Chad.

    Hours before the shooting erupted, Wang Yi had met with Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Deby and other senior officials.

    Deby was in the presidential complex at the time of the attack, according to Koulamallah.

  • Nigerians react as Bandit leader render financial help to followers on social media

    Nigerians react as Bandit leader render financial help to followers on social media

    Nigerians have expressed outrage after a video of a notorious bandit kingpin in military camouflage offering financial assistance to his followers in need, surfaced on social media.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the live session, which has since gone viral, showed followers sharing their account digits in the comment section, hoping to receive money from the bandit leader.

    The live video sessions were subsequently uploaded to the microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, sparking widespread outrage.

    Expressing disbelief, Nigerians outrightly condemned the audacity of the criminal figure to flaunt his activities on social media.

    The incident has also led to calls for swift action from the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to track down and arrest the individual.

    Writing via @revi_ofthehills, Comr. Isah Muhammed said: “Security personnels cannot find him because he’s not holding “end bad governance” placard.”

    solbabyz: “The fact this men’s are able to use smart phones comfortably is crazy How can Nigerian government not have the technology to track them even if the phones don’t have sim cards?? Bro it’s crazy how I It’s possible to isolate frequency coming out from a certain place.”

    Nairaexchanger: “He’s exploiting the banking system and telecommunications, while on social media, the government turns a blind eye. Anyone who calls this government responsible is a complete fool.”

    Ezeifeka_Obinna: “I don’t know why the military have drones, capturing this people is a waste of resources.”

    ikechukk: “These ones no get acct to freeze Abi ? No get number to trace Abi ? No get mothers to arrest Abi ?”

    moright20: “Government should ban tiktok.”

    ontophilll­_: “Why can’t DSS use the sender’s details from the bank and track them.”

    pdauda: “Our bandits are always well kitted in GI gear with full accessories and weapons. The same camo that soldiers will make young people roll in gutters for wearing is what terrorists and bandits show off with. And the CDS or COAS are not huffing and puffing over it.”

     

  • Chad Prime Minister, Masra resigns two weeks after losing presidential election to junta chief

    Chad Prime Minister, Masra resigns two weeks after losing presidential election to junta chief

    The prime Minister of Chad, Succes Masra has turned in his resignation letter two weeks after his to junta chief Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno in presidential elections.

    Recall that 40-year -old Deby, won the May 6 presidential vote with 61 percent of the ballot, according to final results, and is due to be sworn in at an investiture ceremony on Thursday in the capital N’Djamena.

    He was proclaimed transitional president in April 2021 by a junta of 15 generals after his father, iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, had been shot dead by rebels after 30 years in power.

    Masra, also aged 40 and once a fierce Deby opponent before becoming prime minister four months ago, won 18.5 percent of the vote, but contested the results.

    “I’ve just submitted my resignation and that of the transition government, which became irrelevant with the end of the presidential election,” Masra said on his Facebook page in a message authenticated by his team to AFP.

    The move, he added, was also in accordance with the constitution.

    Masra claimed victory in the first round of the ballot, which his party called a “masquerade” and which international rights groups had said would be neither credible nor fair.

     

  • 2026 WCQ: CAF picks Chadian referee, Mahamat for Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash

    2026 WCQ: CAF picks Chadian referee, Mahamat for Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash

    Alhadi Allaou Mahamat from Chad will be at the center when the Super Eagles of Nigeria clash with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa  at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying tie next month according to reports on the website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)

    The encounter is billed for the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday, June 7.

    Manhat has officiated in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

    The 38-year-old Chadian  was also on duty at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

    He will be assisted by Sudanese official Mohammed Ibrahim Abdallah (assistant referee 1), Abelmiro Dos Reis Monte Negro from Sao Tome & Principe (assistant referee 2) and compatriot Pousri Armi Alfred (fourth official) at the encounter.

    Ahmed Sayed Abou Elela from Egypt will serve as the referee assessor, while Ghanaian Munkaila Nassam Adam will be the commissioner for the matchday three clash.

  • How Chad’s military head, Mahamat Deby, PM Succès Masra, eight others slugged it out in presidential election

    How Chad’s military head, Mahamat Deby, PM Succès Masra, eight others slugged it out in presidential election

    Chad is preparing to end its three year military junta as presidential elections took place today in the central African Country.

    Recall that General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, who seized power in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was installed as the president of the Transitional Military Council, is the favourite among the 10 candidates.

    The 40-year-old became the central African nation’s leader when his father, who had repressively ruled Chad since 1990, died from wounds suffered on the front line as he visited troops in the north battling rebels.

    It was further gathered that the country of around 19 million people has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from its former colonial power France in 1960.

    Déby promised that his presidency was only a temporary placeholder until Chad had transitioned to a new democratic government.

    But  Gen Mahamat Déby is one of the favourites to win, there is some scepticism about whether this will bring about change.

    Prime Minister Succès Masra is among his nine challengers and is seen as his biggest rival.

    Ten politicians who had been hoping to run, including two prominent figures, Nassour Ibrahim Neguy Koursami and Rakhis Ahmat Saleh, were excluded by the constitutional council because of “irregularities”. For example, Mr Koursami was accused of forgery.

    But some have argued that the decision to bar certain people was politically motivated.

  • Chad holds presidential election after 3 years of military rule

    Chad holds presidential election after 3 years of military rule

    Chad holds presidential election on Monday meant to end three years of military administration and usher in democracy, but instead it appears likely to solidify the interim president’s grip on power.

    General Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno who seized power in 2021, suspended the constitution, and was installed as the president of the Transitional Military Council is the favourite among the 10 candidates.

    The 40-year-old became the central African nation’s leader when his father, who had repressively ruled Chad since 1990, died from wounds suffered on the front line as he visited troops in the north battling rebels.

    The vast country of around 19 million people has never experienced a peaceful transfer of power since its independence from its former colonial power France in 1960.

    Déby promised that his presidency was only a temporary placeholder until Chad had transitioned to a new democratic government.

    But he has crushed opposition demonstrations, voters and observers alike doubt that the election will be fair.

    NAN reports that the politics of Chad take place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Chad is both head of state and head of government.

    Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.

    The president is elected for a five-year term by the people.

    The National Assembly has 155 members, elected for a four-year term in 25 single-member constituencies and 34 multi-member constituencies.

  • Don’t send Nigerian soldiers to Niger, HURIWA urges Tinubu

    Don’t send Nigerian soldiers to Niger, HURIWA urges Tinubu

    Human Rights Writers As­sociation of Nigeria, (HURIWA), has advised the Economic Communi­ty of West African States (ECOWAS) led by President Bola Tinubu over its pro­posed “military interven­tion” plan in coup-hit Niger Republic.

    HURIWA said the ECOW­AS should not send troops to Niger Republic, warning that the landlocked coun­try may become another Vietnam for West Africa recalling how in the 1950s, Vietnam descended into civil war, with the Southern government and US forces attempting to stop the spread of communism but US troops lost their lives trag­ically and had to withdraw.

    HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordina­tor, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko on Monday, said it is a hy­pocrisy of the highest order for ECOWAS to send troops to Niger Republic when terrorists, kidnappers and bandits overrun Nigeria’s North-East and North-West states.

    The group said the Nige­rian leader and ECOWAS chair should remove the log in his eyes before re­moving the log in the eyes of others, adding anything aside from this is tanta­mount to hypocrisy and double standards.

    Last week, General Ab­dourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, and the chief of Niger’s Presidential Guard, de­clared himself leader while the country’s elected Pres­ident, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since the coup took place last Wednesday.

    From August 2020 till date, no fewer than five coups have occurred in three West African countries. Whilst those of Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea were success­fully carried out by juntas, attempts in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau were foiled.

    Also, one of Nigeria’s neighbours, Chad, had an unconstitutional change of government led by Lieu­tenant General Mahamat Idriss Déby after his father died of injuries.

  • Chad junta leader pardons 110 people held over october protests

    Chad junta leader pardons 110 people held over october protests

    Chadian leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has pardoned 110 more people sentenced to jail terms following deadly protests against the regime last October.

    Demonstrations against the extension of Deby’s transitional rule broke out last October in the capital N’Djamena and several other towns.

    Deby was proclaimed head of state by the army in April 2021 after the death of his father, Idriss Deby Itno, who was killed during anti-rebel operations after ruling for 30 years.

    “Persons tried and sentenced for acts of unauthorised assembly, intentional assault and battery, arson, (and) destruction of property… following the events of October 20… benefit from a presidential pardon,” read the decree, signed by Deby.

    More than 600 young men, including at least 80 minors, were arrested in N’Djamena on October 20 and in the following days, and then sent to a prison in the desert town of Koro Toro more than 600 kilometres, 370 miles, away.

    After months of detention, they were tried without legal representation.

    More than half were sentenced to prison terms, while the others were given suspended sentences or released.

    Local and international rights groups claimed that dozens or even hundreds of people were tortured or executed on the way to Koro Toro, a claim denied by the authorities.

    Mahamat El-Hadj Abba Nana, public prosecutor at the N’Djamena Court of Appeal, told AFP that the 110 people pardoned had been tried and sentenced to between 18 months and five years in prison in Koro Toro, N’Djamena and Moundou, the country’s second-largest city.

    A total of 436 people convicted of taking part in last October’s protests have now been pardoned by Chadian authorities in less than four months.

    At the end of March, 259 demonstrators sentenced to prison terms were pardoned under a similar decree, followed by a second wave of 67 people in May.

  • Nigerian military bomb ISWAP leaders Ali Kwaya, Bukar Mainoka in Lake Chad

    Nigerian military bomb ISWAP leaders Ali Kwaya, Bukar Mainoka in Lake Chad

     

    The leaders of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Ali Kwaya and Bukar Mainoka, have been killed.

    According to monitored reports, they were killed during an operation by Nigerian military fighter jets at Lake Chad late Saturday.

    Influential members of the ISWAP Shura (Consultation) Council included Kwaya and Mainoka.

    They died after the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai conducted air interdiction missions at Belowa.

    Belowa, one of the ISWAP/Boko Haram enclaves in the Tumbuns, is located in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State, on the western coast of Lake Chad

    The military said the strikes at Belowa became necessary after intelligence revealed the convergence of some ISWAP leaders and fighters.

    The terrorists were suspected to be gathering for a meeting ahead of an attack on friendly forces.

    A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter aircraft dispatched to the location to hit the ISWAP elements with rockets and bombs in multiple passes.

    An intelligence operative confirmed that the airstrikes were successful.

    “Two vehicles conveying about 13 injured surviving terrorists to another hideout were struck through precision strikes.

    “Feedbak revealed that ISWAP kingpin, Ali Kwaya, a key member of the ISWAP Shura Council, and Mallam Bukar Mainoka were among those neutralized”, the source said.