Conflicts continue in Kanem province, where fighting has already taken place on Saturday afternoon, April 17. Chadia’s armed forces have been fighting for a week with rebel columns of facts, Front for Alternation and Concord, for entry into the north of the country from their rear bases in Libya a week ago.
In an interview with RFI exclusively, the head of Fact Mahamat Mahadi Ali admitted that his columns had been forced to pursue “a strategic withdrawal”.
According to our information, the fighting continued on Sunday and until the morning of Monday 19 April. Clashes allegedly took place near the city of Nokou, about 50 kilometers from Mao, the capital of Kanem province. Kanem is located in central western Chad and runs along the border with Niger.
According to the head of facts, the majority of the troops would now be further north, without further details. He explains “thinking of their next actions”.
Another element, according to an independent source, is that survivors of the recent fighting have been seen south of Kanem in the Lake Chad region trying to reach the border with Niger.
In his interview, Mahamat Mahadi Ali accuses France of giving Deby the advantage in these fights. According to him, the incessant reconnaissance flights, which were carried out day and night, constituted a direct and decisive intervention in the conflict.
