Chad: brigade commander killed in shootout with suspected arms traffickers

Tragedy struck in eastern Chad at dawn on May 10, when the commander of the Haraze-Mangueigne territorial brigade—a chief warrant officer who was also serving as acting sub-prefect—was killed in a shootout with suspected arms traffickers. The incident was only made public three days later, on May 13, according to local military sources.

The officer was returning from a mission in a nearby village when, around 5 a.m., he encountered a group of heavily armed individuals. A fierce exchange of gunfire ensued. Despite being gravely wounded, the officer reportedly managed to neutralize one of the attackers and injure another before succumbing to his injuries.

Reinforcements arrived quickly at the scene and were able to arrest the wounded suspect. His interrogation led to the seizure of a dozen firearms and a large cache of ammunition. Security forces have since launched a sweeping operation in the region, conducting searches in multiple villages.

Haraze-Mangueigne, located in Chad’s Salamat province, is a hotspot for insecurity. Armed banditry is widespread, and residents—often left to fend for themselves—regularly denounce the lack of mobile network coverage, a critical gap that hinders rapid alerts and enables criminals to escape unchallenged.