Boko Haram attack leaves 40 Chadian soldiers dead near border

The tragedy occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday when terrorists attacked military positions, seized weapons, and set fire to army vehicles belonging to Chad. Among the victims was the unit commander.

Although we suffered heavy losses, the situation is under control, and our forces have gone in pursuit of the enemy, said a representative of the Lac region authorities, as quoted by the Polish Press Agency.

Chad's president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, went to the scene and announced that the attackers would be tracked down and pursued until they were caught.

The Lake Chad region has long been a battleground between the Chadian military and Boko Haram. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group formed as a result of a split within Boko Haram, also operates there.

Boko Haram began fighting the Nigerian government in 2009, demanding the implementation of Sharia law. This conflict has claimed around 40,000 lives so far and has forced more than two million people to flee their homes.

In June, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 220,000 residents fled the Lac region due to attacks by armed groups.

The Polish Press Agency reminds us that Boko Haram has expanded its activities to neighboring countries, including Chad, contributing to the destabilization of the region.

The Boko Haram group was formed in 2002. It is an Islamic extremist organization that seeks to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria based on a strict interpretation of Sharia law.

The group opposes Western influences, particularly in education. The name Boko Haram is often translated as "western education is sin," or "ban western education".

The exact number of members of the organization is unknown, but at various stages of its existence, it has been estimated to be from several thousand to even 15,000 people.

Boko Haram operates not only in Nigeria but also in Chad, Niger, and Mali, among other places.