newsinsightplus

BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaYaya Dillo: Chad opposition leader killed in shootoutPublished33 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ISSOUF SANOGOImage caption, Opposition politician Yaya Dillo was a vocal opponent of his cousin, President Mahamat DébyBy Mayeni Jones & Wedaeli ChibelushiBBC News, Lagos and LondonA leading critic of Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Déby, has been killed in a shootout with security forces, officials say.Yaya Dillo’s death comes after the government blamed him for a deadly attack on the country’s security agency. He denied the accusation.On Wednesday, heavy gunfire was heard near his party’s headquarters in the capital, N’Djamena.Mr Dillo was also a cousin of President Déby, who has been in power since 2021. Mr Déby was named by the army to succeed his father who was killed by rebels after three decades in power. The unrest in the Central African country follows the announcement that presidential election will be held on 6 May.These elections are intended to return the country to constitutional rule.Before his death, Mr Dillo was widely predicted to be his cousin’s main opponent in the election.He was the leader of the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF).Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah told the AFP news agency that Mr Dillo had died on Wednesday “where he had retreated, at the headquarters of his party. He didn’t want to surrender and fired on law enforcement”.The authorities said 12 others also died in the shootout.Mobile phone and internet networks in Chad have been down since the reported attack on the National Security Agency (ANSE) headquarters.On Wednesday, Mr Dillo said the accusation he was behind the attack was intended “to make me afraid so that I don’t go to the election”.The government had accused Mr Dillo’s PSF colleague, Ahmed Torabi, of attempting to assassinate the president of the Supreme Court on Tuesday.Mr Torabi was arrested and shot dead, the PSF said.Wednesday was not Mr Dillo’s first violent run-in with security forces.When running against the current president’s father, Idriss Déby, for the presidency in 2021, state forces killed Mr Dillo’s mother, son and three others, the PSF said.The party said the assailants were attempting to arrest Mr Dillo.At the time, the government contested the PSF’s death toll, saying three people had been killed.You may be interested in:Africa Live: Latest updates from the continentA quick guide to ChadWhy does France have military bases in Africa?Related TopicsChadTop StoriesSarah killer should not have been in Met – inquiryPublished6 minutes agoLive. More than 100 reported killed as crowd waits for Gaza aidChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersPublished1 hour agoFeaturesChecking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fightersRaye’s path to the Brits: ‘It’s not been the simplest story’Born on 29 February: ‘Being a leapling feels special’Non-doms: What does non-domiciled mean?Why Iranians look dimly on first chance to vote since unrestWhat are assisted dying, assisted suicide and euthanasia?Sheffield musical ‘reminds us of what we’ve lost’What’s at stake for Biden and Trump as both visit borderWhy a skatepark has been given listed statusElsewhere on the BBCWhat is it really like to be a monk?’To be a monk is something very vast, very high and very beautiful’AttributioniPlayer’We have built the world, perhaps inadvertently, for men’Philanthropist Melinda French Gates on what she’s learned from her life so farAttributionSoundsFrom the largest ship to disasters on deck…A closer look at times when cruise ships have caused commotionAttributioniPlayerThe screening dilemma…Could good intentions to detect illnesses early actually be causing more harm?AttributionSoundsMost Read1The Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers dies at 662Father of Brianna killer jailed for sex offences3Putin warns West against sending troops to Ukraine4Steve Coogan and firms sued over Richard III film5William condemns antisemitism rise on synagogue visit6Hundreds to be rehomed over concrete fears7Checking Israel’s claim to have killed 10,000 Hamas fighters8Gove investigated by Commons standards watchdog9Pogba ‘sad and shocked’ at four-year ban for dopingAttributionSport10Body Shop to shut 75 stores and cut hundreds of jobs